February 7, 2020 – The Department of Energy Assistance (DEA) has issued action transmittals to LIHEAP Grantees, and other interested parties, to communicate actions needed to take concerning their program(s).

The action transmittals include the following:

January 31, 2020 – The Office of Community Services (OCS) issued a dear colleague letter regarding FY 2020 compliance review monitoring visits to Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grantees. For FY 2020, seven states, one U.S. territory, and two tribal grantees will be reviewed.

January 27, 2020 – Colorado’s energy assistance program, Energy Outreach Colorado, has provided 1,000 low-income households with weatherization assistance. The assistance is provided by Colorado’s Affordable Residential Energy (CARE) program.

January 11, 2020 – The 20th annual Ski for Heat event will be held in Vermont on January 11th. The Ski for Heat event raises money to assist low-income Vermont residents in paying their heating bills.

Over the past 19 years, the Ski for Heat event has raised over $425,000 to help low-income residents pay their winter utility bills. The event features live music and is one of the most anticipated events in the area by those who attend.

December 20, 2019 – An increase for FY 2020 funding amounts has been announced for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). FY 2020 funding has increased $50 million to $3.74 billion.

December 13, 2019 – The Distributed Energy Financial Group (DEFG), has released a consumer survey report on how to best serve low-income customers in the utility sector. The report concludes there is a need for strategy in addressing utility bill affordability in low-income households.

The findings of the report show that forty-eight percent of the respondents indicated trouble paying utility bills and revealed that employed residents indicated a “higher level of trouble,” than unemployed residents.

December 6, 2019 – Workshops in the Phoenix, Arizona area are available for low-income communities to attend, providing education on energy conservation topics. The workshops provided by Chipsa, include educating low-income attendees on how to interpret their energy bills.

November 22, 2019 – Missouri residents who are eligible for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), administered through the Missouri Ozarks Community Action (MOCA), can save an average of $283 annually through weatherization assistance. The assistance includes cost-effective building improvements such as ventilation, lighting improvements, air-sealing and insulation improvements.

November 14, 2019 – The state of Rhode Island is set to get approximately $21,566,217 through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The funding will be used to keep eligible Rhode Island residents warm and safe during the cold, winter months this year. Applicants can apply on the Rhode Island Department of Human Services website.

November 4, 2019 – Approximately $3.32 billion of Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 regular block-grant funding has been released to all LIHEAP grantees. This funding release reflects 90 percent of the funds under the Continuing Resolution (Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Health Extenders Act of 2019), to grantees at the beginning of the program year.