Oklahoma Department Of Human Services To Hold Hearing On Low-Income Energy Assistance

Thousands of Oklahomans struggled to pay for energy during the summer and winter months, but a federal program aims to give assistance to many of them. 

The federally funded 'Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program' (LIHEAP) helped about 5,600 Oklahoma households in 2020. Of the nearly 4,000,000 people who called Oklahoma home last year, about 65,000 needed help cooling their homes in the summer, while 66,000 needed help with heating in the winter.

On Thursday morning, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services will hold a virtual, public hearing on Zoom about the program. This is mainly to get feedback from the public about how to make sure the money is going to those who need it most. The hearing is set to begin at 10 a.m. 

The program looks at a person's income, household size, and available resources in determining who to help. Households are not eligible if the utility bill is paid directly to the energy provider by someone who doesn't live at the residence. 

LIHEAP components: 

The Energy Crisis Assistance Program (ECAP) provides assistance for households with a verifiable energy crisis including the loss of heating or cooling. Open enrollment for the program begins each year in mid-March. Energy crisis assistance for households with a life-threatening medical situation is accepted year-round. 

The non-emergency summer cooling program provides assistance with a one-time payment per fiscal year to the energy company providing the main source of cooling for the household. Open enrollment begins each year in June. 

The non-emergency winter heating program provides assistance with a one-time payment per fiscal year to the energy company providing the main source of heating for the household. Open enrollment begins each year in December.