Home heating bills

by Rep. David Klindt

Gasoline prices have taken a bigger bite out of family budgets in recent months and prices are still volatile. In fact, energy prices are predicted to remain high and may increase. In addition, we are seeing record high prices for natural gas which many use to heat their homes. Heating our homes during the cold winter months is a basic, but high-cost, necessity.

Recent reports predict that heating bills this winter may increase by more than $40 per month over what they cost last year. These record high heating bills will hit low-income folks and those living on fixed incomes the hardest. Missouri has a couple of programs which are designed to help low-income citizens pay their heating bills and to weatherize their homes to help make them more energy-efficient and reduce their bills.

The Missouri Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helped approximately 89,000 households statewide last year. This Program is administered by the local Division of Family Services office and they will begin accepting applications on November 13, 2000 for assistance during the months of December, January, February and March. Homeowners and renters are eligible, based upon monthly income, and other eligibility criteria.

For example, a family of four with a maximum monthly income of $1,634 may qualify for assistance with their heating bills.

This program makes one-time payments directly to the energy supplier or households who qualify. Most of the big utility companies participate and checks are sent directly to the gas or electric supplier who then credits the eligible person’s account. The Program will also make a payment directly to a landlord for those renters whose heating bills are included in their rent payments. The average one-time payment last year was approximately $190 per household for the four months which are covered.

In addition, the Division of Family Services can direct needy families to a local community action agency to access the Crisis Intervention Program.

This Program can pay up to $400 per family to those low-income families who have received a notice that their gas service is about to be shut-off due to lack of payment. The Program can also pay to have the gas turned back on. This assistance is in addition to the LIHEAP program described above.

If you think you might be eligible for this Program you can contact the Division of Family Services Office in your county. They will provide you with the information you need to complete an application and determine whether or not you qualify.

Another state program designed to help reduce energy bills is the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program. This Program has a budget this year of $4.5 million to weatherize an estimated 2,080 homes statewide.

Families whose incomes are up to 125% of the federal poverty level are eligible for this Program. For example, a family of four with an annual income of $21,313 should qualify to have their home weatherized.

The Division of Energy in the State Department of Natural Resources administers this program. Energy auditors perform an energy audit and diagnostic tests on each home, including blower door tests and, in some cases, infrared thermography. These procedures help detect and locate air leaks, etc. Heating systems are also tested for efficiency and safety in low-income housing, and repairs are made. After the audits and tests are performed, the energy-efficient improvements which are made to a home may include increasing insulation in the walls, attic and floor foundations; a heating system “clean-and-tune”; heating system replacement; water a heater tank upgrade; installation of pipe insulation; and caulking and weather stripping. Electric bills can be reduced by about 12 percent annually and natural gas bills can be reduced by more than 23 percent annually in a home which has been weatherized. This can be a significant savings for low-income families.

If you think you may be eligible to participate in the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program you may contact the Green Hills Community Action Agency at 660-359-3907. They will assist you in completing the appropriate application forms and work with you to get your home evaluated and weatherized.