January 29, 2021 – The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services (WVDHHS) has announced that the deadline for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) until Feb. 5, 2020. Washington’s LIHEAP program also extended their deadline to Jan. 29, 2020.

January 22, 2021 – The Etowah Community Action Agency in Alabama is now scheduling appointments for low-income households to apply for disaster-relief funds through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) CARES Program.

January 15, 2021 – Michigan’s annual Walk for Warmth event is being hosted this year from Feb. 6 through Feb. 12 through the Ottawa County Community Action Agency. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be held virtually this year, allowing participants to walk or run in an area of their choosing as opposed to the designated routes in previous years.

January 8, 2021 – Utility assistance is now available through Alabama’s LIHEAP Disaster Relief Program for households that have been affected by the COVID pandemic. Appointment can be made to apply for these disaster relief funds starting on Monday, January 11.

Applicants must have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to qualify for benefits. Benefits for this program may be up to $1000 and are paid directly to the supplier.

December 31, 2020 – The Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) will have approximately 40 percent more funding for FY21 than FY20.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said there will be more than $154 million available through various programs to help people pay their heat, electric and gas bills. For FY20, that amount was $110 million.

December 18, 2020 – Ameren Missouri is voluntarily suspending the utility disconnections for their customers until January 1, 2021. Officials from Ameren encourage customers to still pay their utility bills to avoid large debts next year when disconnect protections are lifted.

December 11, 2020 – The Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) is now helping low -income households pay their winter heating bills through the Home Energy Winter Crisis Assistance program. From November 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020, the program has assisted more than 2,600 low-income households pay their energy bills.

December 4, 2020 – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced that beginning December 1, some vulnerable populations will be issued automatic LIHEAP payments to help with winter heating bills during the COVID-19 pandemic.

November, 20, 2020 – The Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) Fuel Assistance Program in Massachusetts is now in full swing, helping thousands of low-income households pay their utility bills. In 2019, the program assisted more than 25,000 households in paying their utility bills.

November 13, 2020 – Despite moratoriums ending in Maryland on November 15, Pepco customers will not be cutoff if they are behind on their bills. The extended protection by Pepco will also prevent residents in DC and Virginia from disconnections.

According to a spokesperson from Pepco, power will not be turned off until January, but the official disconnection warnings will be distributed next week. Nearly 132,600 customers behind on their bills will be protected from utility shutoffs.