Drop in temps from December to January causing sticker-shock for some utility customers; Kentucky’s LIHEAP fund still in good shape

Republished from WEKU.

Some Kentuckians who just opened their utility bills got a dose of sticker-shock, thanks to a January that was much colder than December. That’s a real problem for people with low or fixed incomes. In central Kentucky, the Bluegrass Community Action Partnership administers the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Executive Director Troy Roberts said Kentucky’s share of LIHEAP is in good shape.

“As of last night, only 24% of the total allocation has been spent right now. So there’s money out there. And if people are needing assistance, they definitely need to go into one of the local community action agencies and try to get some help.”

Roberts said in past years, Kentucky has occasionally run out of LIHEAP funds, but for now, there’s a place to turn.

“There’s local offices in each one of the counties and that’s, they work through them, and they help them assist them with the application process and everything that they need to have to apply for LIHEAP.”

Roberts said LIHEAP’s crisis program, which primarily assists people who’ve received utility cut-off notices, helped more than 72-thousand Kentucky households last year.

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Originally published by WEKU.

Republished with permission.

https://www.weku.org/the-commonwealth/2024-01-31/drop-in-temps-from-december-to-january-causing-sticker-shock-for-some-utility-customers-kentuckys-liheap-fund-still-in-good-shape