Legislature Passes Emergency Energy Assistance

In the early morning hours on Saturday, the legislature adopted the following measures during a one-day special session today Aug. 22 called to deal with emergency energy assistance:

• $8.5 million for Operation Fuel to provide emergency assistance to households with income between 151% and 200% of the federal poverty level ($31,800 to $42,400 for a family of four).
• $5 million for Operation Fuel to provide emergency assistance to households between 200% of the federal poverty level and 100% of the state media income ($42,400 to $93,821 for a family of four)
• $6.5 million for municipal grants to assist in heating public schools
• $4 million to provide home heating assistance to residents 62 years of age and older
• $3.5 million for home heating assistance grants to non-profits that provide human services of public health services for the state
• $3 million in additional funding for a rebate program for residential furnace/boiler replacement
• $2 million for rebates to residents that repair or upgrade their existing furnace/boiler to achieve greater efficiencies
• $2 million to change a furnace replacement loan program from low to zero interest. It increases those eligible for the program from 150% to 200% of the state median income (up to $187,642 for a family of four)
• $35 million for an Energy Contingency Account
• $7 million for a new Energy Audit Subsidy Program that provides energy audits to residential customers at a cost of $75
• $2 million for a weatherization program for individuals who qualify for state heating assistance

How to Apply

Individuals can call the state’s 2-1-1 hotline to receive information on who is eligible for various federal and state energy assistance programs and how to apply.