SOMERVILLE, Mass. -- Energy and heating experts gathered Thursday to discuss ways that Massachusetts residents can save energy and money on heating bills.

NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that utilities, such as NStar and KeySpan, have joined community agencies to fund Energy Bucks -- a campaign that helps build awareness about the variety of energy efficiency and discount services available to income-eligible families.

Maria Nicolau called Energy Bucks for her mother, whose Somerville house was built in 1910.

"She has Social Security and a very small pension," Nicolau said. "We received a bill for $600. That was just really difficult."

A new furnace and insulation may help cut 20 percent off Nicolau's mother's heating bill.

"We are replacing the heating system, insulating the sidewalls, weather stripping the doors and doing a lot of air sealing," Menotomy Weatherization Program spokeswoman Janet Baronian said.

Eligibility for the programs is determined each year and varies by program and household size.

"I assumed because my mother was a homeowner that she wouldn't be eligible for any kind of assistance. I was surprised, happily surprised, to know that she was eligible," Nicolau said.

More than 800,000 Massachusetts households qualify for one of Energy Bucks' programs, but less than one-third participate.

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