Rising utility rates have inspired new state legislation to cap or reduce costs, and another Prince George’s County council member is working to provide utility assistance to residents in need.

Council member Wala Blegay announced Monday that her office is partnering with Community Impact, the nonprofit arm of the 2nd Episcopal District of The AME Church, to provide utility bill assistance to anyone in Prince George’s County needing help paying utility bills. And her office has already gotten more requests than it expected.

The assistance comes as county residents struggle with the rising cost of utilities and everyday expenses.

“Right now everything is high,” Tee Swann said outside Walmart in New Carrollton. “Food. gas. I literally just tried to buy a pineapple, and it was $6. I walked right out. So we need all the help we can get.”

Swann isn’t the only one feeling the strain. Sara Chernauskas said that, during the summer, she and her 10-year-old will spend the entire day at a local library or other cool place to avoid using the air conditioning in her apartment in hopes of avoiding a surge in her utility costs.

“If you live in PG County, you know this, everybody here is hurting. It doesn’t matter what you do,” Chernauskas said. “Half of the parents in her school are out because of different furloughs, so money is so tight. Even using the AC becomes something you don’t want to do.”

State and local officials have been working to lessen the utility bill sticker shock. On Monday, Maryland lawmakers passed the Utility RELIEF Act, which they say will save Marylanders at least $150 a year.

Council member Ed Burroughs, whose office is also offering energy assistance for older citizens, sponsored the resolution that the Prince George’s County Council unanimously passed this month to launch an investigation into skyrocketing utility costs.

Blegay said her office has about $10,000 to go toward this effort, which isn’t enough to help everyone who needs relief immediately. She said her office is looking for other organizations to contribute funds. And it is contacting the utility companies to see if there is anything they can do to provide support.