Crisis Assistance Requests on the Rise in Minnesota

April 19, 2018 – Minnesota’s Mahube-Otwa Community Action Partnership reports that this year’s long winter, as well as an increase in propane prices, has led to an increase in crisis assistance requests.

Janice Renner, Energy Assistance Coordinator for Mahube-Otwa, said it’s not too late for people to apply for help and that crisis funds may be applied for once the primary heat grant has been used up.

Winter Moratoriums Coming to an End

April 13, 2018 – Wisconsin’s winter moratorium protection will end Monday, April 16. Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission rule prohibits utilities from disconnecting utility customers between Nov. 1 and April 15. After April 15, utility companies are not required to provide service to customers who are behind on their bills.

Spokesperson Mathew Spencer says customers who are behind on their bills can find help.

PA Extends LIHEAP Application Deadline

April 6, 2018 – The deadline for Pennsylvanians to apply for Low Income Energy Assistance Program funding has been extended until April 13. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced in a news release that the program will be extended by a week due to, “the long grip of winter.”

“Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable were able to heat their homes this winter because of LIHEAP,” Wolf said. “By keeping the program open longer, we hope to provide additional assistance to those who are struggling to keep their family warm.”

Additional LIHEAP Funding a Possibility for Lee County, Florida

March 30, 2018 – The Board of Commissioners in Lee County, Florida will be voting on a motion to grant an additional $63,825 to benefit the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Project (LIHEAP).

Bill Passes with LIHEAP Funding Increase

March 23, 2018 – Congress has passed the full year funding bill with a 7% increase in LIHEAP funding. The bill provides an increase for LIHEAP from $3.39 billion to $3.64 billion, a difference of $250 million. The WAP also increased from $228 million to $251 million, an increase of $23 million

The passing of this bill is good news for LIHEAPs in states like Michigan and New York.

Emergency Energy Assistance Released to Three Montana Tribes

March 16, 2018 – Montana’s Governor Steve Bullock recently announced that $200,000 in emergency energy assistance funding will be released to LIHEAP eligible families on the Northern Cheyenne, Fort Belknap, and Blackfeet reservations.

Governor Bullock said, “Tribal, state, and local leaders and volunteers have come together over the past several weeks to take care of our fellow Montanans during this brutal winter.”

CT’s Operation Fuel Names New Executive Director

March 9, 2018 – Connecticut’s Operation Fuel has announced that Brenda Watson has been named the new Executive Director of the program. Watson joined Operation Fuel in Connecticut in 2010 as the Director of Community Programs.

Brenda holds a B.A. degree from Florida Memorial University and a Master’s degree from trinity College Hartford.

LIHEAP Outreach Event Held in Louisiana

March 2, 2018 – The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program in Jefferson Parish, LA held an outreach event on Friday for people to apply on a first-come first-serve basis. The event took place at the Oakdale Playground and targeted citizens with the lowest income and highest energy burden based on family size and income.

Montana Shows Increase in Heating Assistance Need

February 23, 2018 – Montana has seen an increase of residents in need of home heating assistance by 14.4 percent since 2016, according to state officials. Montana approved 16,303 households for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) as of February 15, which amounts to 724 more households than in 2017.

The Montana LIEAP, in addition to providing heating bill assistance, provides weatherization services and assistance in emergency situations dealing with furnaces or water heaters.

Heating Bill Assistance Available for Low-Income Michigan Residents

February 16, 2018 – Low-income Michigan residents can now get assistance with paying winter energy bills. Michigan is now processing the home heating credit applications for the 2017 tax year. Even if a resident did not file a tax return, they may still qualify for the assistance.

Many Michigan residents say that they have been charged more in their heating bills than in the past years. Last year, nearly 315,000 people applied for the heating credit and the average benefit was $170.

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