LIHEAP FY21 Funding Proposal Shows Increase in Funding

July 10, 2020 – The FY21 Labor-HHS appropriations bill, released by The House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor, Education and Related Agencies, reveals a proposal for funding for The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at $3,765,304,000. This proposal amount is $25 million more than the previous year.

WY Receives Additional CARES Act Funding

July 3, 2020 –Wyoming has received additional funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to aid low-income households in paying energy bills. Wyoming received a total of $2.4 million to help low-income families pay heating and energy bills amidst the circumstances of COVID-19.

Update Available for Utility Moratoriums During COVID-19

June 26, 2020 – An update is available, provided by the National Energy Assistance Director’s Association (NEADA), on the status of utility moratorium shutoffs due to COVID-19. A summary of voluntary and state-ordered shutoffs is available on the NEADA web site.

OH Summer Crisis Assistance Program Begins July 1

June 19, 2020 – Ohio will begin providing crisis assistance to low-income households through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) on July 1. The Ohio Summer Crisis Program assists eligible Ohioans pay for utility bills and air conditioning units and repairs.

WI Moratoriums End July 25

June 12, 2020 – Utilities across the country had recently implemented utility moratoriums amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Some states, such as Wisconsin, are ending those moratoriums at the end of July. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin voted to lift the moratorium on disconnections for nonpayment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DHHS Releases LIHEAP Income Guidelines

June 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released two information memoranda regarding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Income Guidelines. The guidelines are optional for implementation in FY20 and mandatory for implementation in FY21.

AZ Receives $16.5 Million in Additional LIHEAP Funds

May 29, 2020 – Approximately $16.5 million in additional funding has been released for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in Arizona, according to the Arizona Department of Economic Security. The funding comes from the CARES Act fund, in result of the coronavirus pandemic.

New Data Released on Energy Affordability of Low-Income Households

May 22, 2020 – Resources on low-income energy burden have recently been released by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The resources are for those launching or engaging in programs intended to address low-income energy issues.

$900 Million in Supplemental LIHEAP Funding Released

May 11, 2020 – $900 million in supplemental funding has been released to LIHEAP grantees to help, “prevent, prepare for, or respond to” home energy needs surrounding the national emergency created by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). These funds have been appropriated by congress under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law March 27, 2020.

CA Utility Makes Effort to Assist Low Income Households During Pandemic

May 8, 2020 – Many utilities across the country are making changes to their program operations to accommodate low-income households during the pandemic. One common change among them are the changes to the moratoriums; however, utilities such as such as California’s San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) are changing additional aspects of their program operations to further assist low-income households during this time.

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