The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Community Services has released $3.6 billion in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding for fiscal year 2027, which began October 1.
The funding amounts to 90 percent of the total annualized amount made available for LIHEAP under the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 (Pub. L. 119-103) enacted this summer.
APPA said it is aware of the importance of LIHEAP to public power, and the importance of the accelerated released of LIHEAP funding to local community action agencies to ensure critical winter month relief.
However, the continuing appropriations bill did not specifically provide the early release of LIHEAP funds and, so, otherwise would have been released on a pro rata month-by-month basis, APPA noted.
As a result, APPA had been working with the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition to ensure that the bulk of LIHEAP funding was released.
Looking ahead, if HHS continues to operate under a continuing resolution through the fiscal year, the next hurdle will be obtaining the release of the remaining 10 percent of the annualized appropriation, APPA said, noting that it will keep members apprised of relevant developments on that front.
