As utility costs continue to rise, feds add to bill assistance programs - KFOR Oklahoma City

by: Hannah Brandt, Kaylee Douglas/KFOR

Posted: Nov 2, 2022 / 05:10 PM CDT

Updated: Nov 2, 2022 / 05:09 PM CDT

WASHINGTON (DC Bureau/KFOR) – Families crossed Oklahoma and the U.S. whitethorn person to ammunition retired hundreds of other dollars this wintertime due to the fact that of higher vigor costs.

“We’re successful uncharted territory,” said Mark Wolfe with the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. “Prices haven’t been this precocious successful implicit 15 years. So it’s going to beryllium precise very pugnacious for families.”

Wolfe says factors similar the warfare successful Ukraine are driving prices up.

That’s wherefore connected Wednesday, the Biden Administration announced its adding $4.5 cardinal to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

LIHEAP assists eligible low-income households with their heating and cooling vigor costs, measure outgo assistance, vigor situation assistance, weatherization and energy-related location repairs.

“To assistance enactment folks with their heating costs arsenic we spell into the wintertime season,” said National Climate Advisor, Ali Zaidi.

The Administration is besides giving $9 cardinal to a caller rebate programme for energy businesslike upgrades.

“If you privation to crook vigor costs for the agelong word you person to assistance radical marque retrofits, upgrades successful their homes,” said Zaidi.

However, immoderate are acrophobic those steps won’t assistance everyone who volition struggle this winter.

“Energy is conscionable becoming unaffordable successful the United States,” said Wolfe. “And these funds are a measurement successful the close direction. But it’s not going to beryllium enough.”

Wolfe says the National Energy Assistance Directors Association is asking Congress to adhd different $4 cardinal to the vigor assistance program.

He wants to spot much radical instrumentality vantage of the disposable funding.

“If a household is struggling to wage their location vigor bill, they shouldn’t beryllium embarrassed. They should use for help,” said Wolfe.

Wolfe besides says families should marque definite they marque indispensable repairs to support vigor successful – and look for ways to usage less.

“The much you tin trim the magnitude you use, the little your measure volition be,” said Wolfe.

To use for assistance, you tin telephone 1-866-674-6327. Fine much accusation and eligibility requirements online.