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Last year, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) received $8 billion in funding, which is more than double the normal annual funding level for the program. This significant increase was the result of $4.5 billion in additional funding from the American Rescue Plan to help Americans struggling with their utility bills during the COVID0-19 pandemic.

LIHEAP funding is administered by state governments, and the Biden Administration announced the amount of funding delivered to each state last week. The announcement also noted that in addition to increased LIHEAP funding, states and localities received additional support through the Emergency Rental Assistance and State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. Both of these pots of money can also be used to deliver energy assistance to families in need.

The White House announcement also urged utilities to suspend shut-offs, and to coordinate with their state and local government leaders as they work to deliver these federal funds.

Read the White House announcement and find links to information about states here.

For questions on this article, please contact Emily Wong of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-2742 or by email at ewong@apga.org.