Obama looking to turn down the thermostat on the Home Energy Assistance Program
If you’re one of the many that receive SDG&E bill relief from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), you may want to brace yourself: Obama’s 2012 budget proposal would slash almost half the funding for HEAP.
Right now HEAP receives $5.1 billion in federal funding. That number would be cut to $2.5 - $2.57 billion, which is close to the 2008 funding figures. The cut falls in line with the President’s five year spending freeze. The justification given for this drastic cut is that energy prices have fallen to pre 2008 prices, the year that Congress appropriated higher funding to the program.
Regardless of opinion on fiscal policy, it’s tragic to think of the devastating affect the cut will have on low income SDG&E customers in San Diego. According to the American Gas Association, HEAP is already underfunded; even now they can only afford to assist 1 out of every 5 eligible Americans. Loss of this funding will have a severe impact on those who need it the most, particularly for low income elderly folks. Not to mention our freezing friends on the East Coast who are experiencing an unusually intense winter.
The good news is that there’s still time to act. Lawmakers of both parties, such as John Kerry, Scott Brown, Gene Green, and Ed Markey, are already loudly voicing their disapproval of cutting HEAP. We here at UCAN urge you to contact your representatives and let them know that you’re against this cut. The American Gas Association has provided a very handy pre written letter and will send it on your behalf. You can find the form at this link: http://capwiz.com/aga/issues/alert/?alertid=21031501.
If you’re low income and aren’t receiving Federal HEAP funds yet, now is the time to do so. Funds are funneled through the California HEAP program to two local San Diego organizations, Campesinos Unidos, Inc (CUI) and Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee (MAAC). You can check the eligibility requirements through this link: http://www.csd.ca.gov/Programs/EnergyIncomeGuidelines.aspx and this graph will show you which organization to contact: http://www.ucan.org/energy/electricity/heap_contact_info
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