Minnesota to Receive $18 Million for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

(KNSI) — The State of Minnesota has landed $18 million from Congress to help families with heating costs this winter.

The money will be funneled into the Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, to provide qualified ratepayers with assistance for home energy needs. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. residential price of electricity is forecast to average 14.8 cents per kilowatt hour in 2022, up 7.5% from 2021. Higher retail electricity prices largely reflect an increase in wholesale power prices driven by rising natural gas prices.

Ratepayers can apply for help through the Minnesota Department of Commerce by clicking here.

The Cold Weather Rule went into effect on Saturday, October 1st, which protects utility customers from having electric or natural gas service shut off during the coldest months of the year. To protect against disconnection, there must be a payment plan in place. Learn more by clicking here.

Over 127,000 households in Minnesota received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP last winter, with households receiving an average assistance benefit of $1,615.

Locally, Tri-County Action Program or Tri-CAP can help qualifying households by paying a portion of their home heating costs.

Learn more by clicking here.

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