Call for more emergency assistance
WASHINGTON, DC– Senator Susan Collins and Congressman Jared Golden are among those calling for an additional 500 million dollars in supplemental funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program as congress finalizes a budget for 2023.
LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills by providing payment or energy crisis assistance.
A joint statement from Collins and Golden said many Northeast residents are projected to see a significant increase in their utility bills this winter.
Residential electricity prices in some states are forecast to rise over 60 percent , propane up 40 percent and natural gas prices up nearly 30 percent.
According to the National Energy Directors’ Association , the average cost to heat a home is expected to increase by 17.2 percent this winter.
Given the elevated energy prices for this winter, the lawmakers said the emergency federal LIHEAP funding is needed to assist low income households and seniors on fixed incomes.
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