Ables Top Hat offers to pay electric bill, chimney sweep

By BRITTANY FHOLER 

Cove Leader-Press 

As local Central Texas chimney sweeps, Ables Top Hat Home Services knows how important warmth and safety is, and so they want to give back to the community during this trying time. 

Owner Micah Ables is challenging fellow local businesses to do what they can to help out the community. Ables Top Hat Home Services is offering to pay for one family’s electric bill as well as give another family a free chimney sweep to help bring some relief to a few of the countless Central Texas families who struggled to stay warm during the arctic blast and are worried about how much that warmth may cost due to skyrocketing energy rates.

“Our heart hurts for our neighbors who are worried about having to choose between keeping the heat on and buying food for their family this month,” co-owner Corinne Ables said. “This is one small way that we hope to be able to give back to our community.”

Residents who live within the Ables Top Hat Home Services service area along the I-14/U.S. 190 corridor in Copperas Cove, Lampasas, Killeen, Harker Heights, Belton or Temple are able to nominate themselves or a neighbor for a chance to have their electric bill paid for. Those interested must submit their name or the name of the neighbor they are nominating as well as their email, phone number and address and must describe in 250 words or less why they or the nominated family needs this relief assistance. 

Applications must be submitted to office@ablestophat.com no later than March 5, 2021 at 11:59PM. One entry per household will be accepted. 

Ables Top Hat Home Services will select a winner based off the above criteria, solely at their discretion. The electric bill will be paid with proof of a bill (or reimbursed with proof of payment) from a legitimate electric company. Ables Top Hat Home Services will pay for the bill that includes service from February 10-20, 2021, for an amount not to exceed $1,000. 

Owner Micah Ables commented on the challenges that local small businesses have faced in 2020 and now in 2021. 

“It’s no secret that 2020 has been rough for small businesses, and now it seems like 2021 has just gone into overtime or extra innings with the weather this month,” Ables said. “Despite the lockdowns and now this ice-out, we’re fortunate to be in a position to be able to help our community a little bit. We wish we could help everybody, but we’re unfortunately limited. That’s why I’d like to invite and challenge my fellow small business owners to join us in doing whatever we can to help alleviate some of the stress our neighbors are facing.”