Millions of American families struggle to afford basic necessities. For these families, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a vital source of aid, helping them pay their energy bills and avoid having to choose between energy and other essentials, like food or medicine. Access to affordable energy is a matter of health and safety.

Throughout August—and all year long—EEI and our member companies have emphasized the importance of supporting LIHEAP, an essential, widely supported federal program that delivers critical short-term aid to some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens. LIHEAP distributes funding to states, territories, and tribal governments, which in turn use the funds to help low-income households in their jurisdictions with home heating and cooling costs. LIHEAP funds also are used for emergency situations and for weatherization services.

Unlike some federal assistance programs that see their funding increase with need, like Social Security or food stamps, LIHEAP funding must be appropriated annually by Congress. EEI and the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC) are working together to advocate that Congress maintain—and increase—LIHEAP funding. Learn more about this vital program and its impact on American families in NEUAC’s LIHEAP Action Toolkit, which includes LIHEAP talking points and social media posts.

The latest episode of the Electric Perspectives Podcast features a conversation between EEI Vice President of Customer Solutions Lisa Wood and DTE Energy Customer Service Director Tamara Johnson about DTE Energy's successful collaboration with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and their efforts to significantly streamline the process of getting LIHEAP funds to households in need.