November 6, 2020 – The Office of Community Services (OCS) announced the release of $3.36 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for FY21. The funding is regular block-grant funding and provides funding for LIHEAP until December 11, 2020.

October 30, 2020 - The subsidy portion of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program in Kentucky begins on November 2, according to the Kentucky River Foothills Development Council. Eligible applicants may receive one-time payment vouchers for energy assistance.

October 23, 2020 – As the winter months approach, some state’s utility moratoriums are going into effect to protect low-income utility customers from having disconnects during winter conditions. Minnesota’s “Cold Weather Rule,” for example, went into effect Oct 15 to protect low-income utility customers from disconnections during the cold, winter months.

October 16, 2020 – Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule is now in effect and protects low-income customers from utility disconnections until April 15. To be eligible, customers must establish a payment plan with their utility provider.

October 9, 2020 – Iowa’s new residential utility program, the Residential Utility Disruption Prevention Program (RUDPP), will assist eligible utility customers with up to $2000 in assistance with their utility bills. Application for this program is open until November 20, 2020, or until funding is depleted.

October 2, 2020 – The recently updated Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act includes $4.5 Billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

September 25, 2020 – The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services (WV DHHS) has stated that a supplemental benefit payment is being distributed to utility customers who received assistance from The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The supplemental benefit amount is $125.

September 18, 2020 – The Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) has voted to extend the utility moratorium in Wisconsin until November 1. The extension is in result of a recent rise of COVID-19 cases in the state.

Customers are urged to make payment plans “If you have been unable to pay your utility bills, contact your utility to arrange a payment plan or seek public assistance now, and while funding is available,” said PSC Chairwoman Rebecca Cameron Valcq.

September 11, 2020 – The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) has a new energy assistance program called the Virginia COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program, designed to assist families affected by COVID-19 with energy assistance. The program was created with $23.4 million in CARES Act funding.

September 4, 2020 – Indiana’s Duke Energy is helping assist utility customers affected by the pandemic to pay their utility bills by providing $300,000 in energy-assistance funds. To qualify for this assistance, an applicant must meet eligibility requirements and be a customer of Duke Energy.

“These funds, in combination with federal Low-Income Energy Assistance dollars administered by the state, can help hundreds of Hoosiers with energy costs during a challenging time,” said Stan Pinegar, President of Duke Energy Indiana.