Energy Association of Pennsylvania (EAP) President and CEO Andrew Tubbs today issued the following statement on the need to protect the administration of the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP):
“For over four decades, the national Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, has provided vital funding for heating assistance to millions of Americans who are unable to pay their energy bills, including 435,000 Pennsylvanians in the 2023-24 winter heating season. The program’s funding has been carefully allocated directly to utilities to prevent fraud, abuse and waste, and as a result, LIHEAP has experienced considerable bipartisan support.
“The recently announced staffing changes at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services impact all federal workers who administer LIHEAP. This loss of support threatens the critical, life-saving winter heating assistance provided by LIHEAP to the most vulnerable households across the commonwealth.
“It is essential that LIHEAP remains staffed to efficiently and effectively distribute program funds to thousands of vulnerable Pennsylvanians. The Energy Association of Pennsylvania looks forward to working with our congressional delegation on solutions to protect LIHEAP and the Pennsylvania households that rely on this indispensable program.”
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About EAP
The Energy Association of Pennsylvania (EAP) is a trade association that represents and promotes the interests of regulated electric and natural gas distribution companies operating in Pennsylvania. Collectively, EAP’s members deliver energy to more than 8.7 million residential, commercial and industrial customers.
Contact: David LaTorre, david@latorrecommunications.com