IUB encourages customers to seek heating bill assistance before November

DES MOINES — The Iowa Utilities Board is advising residents in need of assistance with their utility bills this winter to apply for relief before the end of the month.

The state offers financial help for residents through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP. The program is organized through community action agencies like HACAP in Washington County, SIEDA in Jefferson County, and Community Action of Southeast Iowa in Henry County, and arranges for one-time payments to energy providers on behalf of certain households.

Local community action programs currently accept LIHEAP applications from people age 60 and older, or with disabilities, but will open to all other households Nov. 1.

Iowa law forbids companies from disconnecting utility services due to unpaid bills between Nov. 1 and April 30, when the energy is crucial for heating homes. Still, the state said it was crucial that recipients get ahead of the ball.

“Although qualified applicants cannot be disconnected during the annual winter moratorium, the IUB urges all LIHEAP-certified customers to continue paying toward their energy bills through the winter to avoid accumulating high debt and face potential utility service disconnection after April 1,” the agency said in a news release. “Customers currently disconnected must contact their utility provider to make payment arrangements to restore service.”

The LIHEAP program helped over 100,000 households with their heating bills in 2022, according to the news release, with an average assistance benefit of around $765.

Links to Southeast Iowa community action agency pages for energy assistance can be found in the online version of this article.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com