Statistics show that the energy burden faced by the average limited-income household is three times that of other households. This is why the American Gas Association, along with other members of the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition, brought the issue of energy affordability to Capitol Hill in early February as part of LIHEAP Action Day.
The annual event connects advocates with policymakers to communicate the importance of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a federal block grant program that provides energy assistance to low- and fixed-income individuals—and to ask lawmakers to maximize fiscal year 2025 appropriations at $5.1 billion.
According to NEUAC, in fiscal year 2023, LIHEAP successfully obligated more than 95% of the $6.1 billion total LIHEAP funds appropriated by Congress and served an estimated 7.1 million households, more than in any other single year since the program’s inception in 1981. Funding also restored energy—or prevented its disconnection—more than 3.2 million times in fiscal year 2022, and an additional 59,000 households were able to be weatherized. The year prior, 32,000 children and 41,000 adults 65 or older were lifted out of poverty thanks to LIHEAP’s help.
LIHEAP funds are appropriated annually, which makes the work accomplished at LIHEAP Action Day very important.
“It’s critical that the people who administer the program locally and who are helped by the program connect in some way with the legislators and thought leaders who are making key decisions that affect the program,” Katrina Metzler, NEUAC’s executive director, said during the event. “That’s what today is all about. It’s about making that connection between them and the people who are in power so they can have good information and do their jobs well.”
By the conclusion of the event, at least 270 NEUAC members conducted more than 308 meetings.
For Keelie Gustin of the Miami Valley Community Action Partnership, the day provided an important opportunity to advocate for people most in need. “I’m here because I think it’s important that we elevate client stories,” Gustin said. “That seems to be the most tangible way to make Congress understand how important this program is.”
According to Metzler, bringing the stories directly to legislators is an excellent and meaningful way of demonstrating the value of the program she calls the “bedrock of energy assistance in America.”
“While Congress has a lot of really tough funding decisions to make, I think LIHEAP is one place they can rest assured that the funding is being well spent,” Metzler said. — Eric Johnson