Low-Income Energy Assistance

Energy costs can place stress on an individual or family's budget. States, generally in conjunction with a federally funded program, offer programs aimed at helping low-income households to reduce their heating costs and to pay for winter energy services. In addition to the state programs (see links below), visit the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Clearinghouse website to find utility-based and charitable resources by state.

Weatherization programs help participants to improve the heating efficiency of their homes, thereby reducing their energy consumption. Low income energy assistance programs pay part of energy bills for eligible individuals.

Eligibility for weatherization and fuel assistance is based on your income and assets. Generally, both homeowners and renters may apply for these programs.

Some states offer assistance with summer energy bills, as well.

Visit the following sites for information regarding the available programs:

Alabama - http://www.adeca.alabama.gov/txtlstvw.aspx?LstID=d9aead61-987c-4dae-a648-c48bcff32da9

Alaska - http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dpa/programs/hap/

Arizona - http://www.liheap.ncat.org/profiles/Arizona.htm

Arkansas - http://www.arkansas.gov/dhs/dco/NewDCO/HEAP%20page.html

California - http://www.csd.ca.gov/Programs/Low%20Income%20Home%20Energy%20Assistance%20Program%20(LIHEAP).aspx

Colorado - http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/leap/

Connecticut - http://www.ct.gov/dss/cwp/view.asp?a=2353&q=305188

Delaware - http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dssc/liheap.html

Florida - http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fhcd/liheap/index.cfm

Georgia - http://www.heatga.org/

Hawaii - http://www.hawaii.gov/health/disability-services/neurotrauma/key-services-finance.html#liheap

Idaho - http://www.hud.gov/local/id/renting/energyprgms.cfm

Illinois - http://www.liheapillinois.com/

Indiana - http://www.citizensenergy.com/english/pages/40/indiana

Iowa - http://www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/caa/index.html

Kansas - http://www.srskansas.org/ISD/ees/lieap.htm

Kentucky - http://chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/dfs/liheap.htm

Louisiana - http://www.lhfa.state.la.us/programs/energy_assistance/low_income_energy.php

Maine - http://www.mainehousing.org/ENERGYPrograms.aspx

Maryland - http://www.dhr.state.md.us/meap/

Massachusetts -http://www.mass.gov/dhcd/components/cs/1PrgApps/LIHEAP/default.HTM

Michigan - http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5453_5531-15420--,00.html

Minnesota - http://www.state.mn.us/portal/mn/jsp/content.do?programid=536884453&id=-536881374&agency=Commerce

Mississippi - http://www.mdhs.state.ms.us/cs_info.html

Missouri - http://www.dnr.mo.gov/energy/weatherization/wx.htm

Montana - http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/programsservices/energyassistance/index.shtml

Nebraska - http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/fia/energy.htm

Nevada - http://www.nevadapower.com/home/assistance/

New Hampshire - http://www.nh.gov/oep/programs/fuelassistance/index.htm

New Jersey - http://www.state.nj.us/bpu/assistance/programs/

New Mexico - http://www.hsd.state.nm.us/isd/liheap.html

New York - http://www.hud.gov/local/ny/renting/energyprgms.cfm

North Carolina - http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/energy/index.htm

North Dakota - http://www.nd.gov/dhs/services/financialhelp/energyassist.html

Ohio - http://www.odod.state.oh.us/cdd/ocs/heap.htm

Oklahoma - http://www.okdhs.org/programsandservices/liheap/

Oregon - http://www.ohcs.oregon.gov/OHCS/SOS_Low_Income_Energy_Assistance_Oregon.shtml

Pennsylvania - http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/ServicesPrograms/LIHEAP/

Rhode Island - http://www.energy.ri.gov/index.php

South Carolina - http://www.energy.sc.gov/index.aspx?m=3&t=91

South Dakota - http://dss.sd.gov/energyassistance/

Tennessee - http://www.tennessee.gov/humanserv/adfam/afs_hea.htm

Texas - http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/ea/index.htm

Utah - http://community.utah.gov/housing_and_community_development/SEAL/HEAT_program/

Vermont - http://www.dcf.vermont.gov/esd/fuel_assistance

Virginia - http://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/ea/index.html

Washington - http://www.liheapwa.org/

West Virginia - http://www.wvdhhr.org/bcf/family_assistance/utility.asp

Wisconsin - http://www.homeenergyplus.wi.gov/

Wyoming - http://lieap.state.wy.us/

Washington, D.C. - http://ddoe.dc.gov/ddoe/cwp/view,a,1209,q,493111.asp