LIHEAP: A Lifeline Congress Should Strengthen
Energy is a lifesaver – literally. Globally, around five million people die each year from temperatures that are either too cold or too hot, with about 90 percent of those deaths attributable to cold. In the United States, widespread availability of heating and air conditioning systems saves hundreds of thousands of lives annually. Programs from energy utilities and the government are a critical lifeline to help low-income Americans weatherize their homes and stay on top of their energy bills. The Low Income Household Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is one of those programs.
LIHEAP exists to help low-income Americans pay for lifesaving energy. Millions of children, senior citizens, and low-income Americans receive funds through LIHEAP grants that helps ensure the heat stays on in winter and the air conditioning in summer.
LIHEAP is not an entitlement program. Congress makes the active choice to fund it in their appropriations every year to support American families in need. As Congress works on appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2026, they have the opportunity to support one of the most cost-effective and high impact programs available today.
Low-income households face an energy burden that is three times that of other households, and many report forgoing medicine or food at least once in the past year to keep the lights or heat on. LIHEAP directly addresses that hardship with help for heating and cooling bills, crisis assistance and even low-cost weatherization and energy-related home repairs that reduce bills over time.
The program’s impact is immediate and measurable. In FY 2023, LIHEAP restored power or prevented disconnection 2,757,200 times and weatherized 60,818 homes, improving health, safety and long-term affordability for the families served. LIHEAP households often include those most vulnerable to temperature extremes, 30 percent of which include an older adult or a person with a disability. Energy assistance in 2023 helped lift 34,000 children and 68,000 seniors out of poverty. That is what safety and dignity look like in practice.
LIHEAP also complements the substantial investments natural gas utilities make every day to help customers use less and save more. On average, AGA member companies invest $4.3 million per day in customer programs like weatherization and efficiency programs for appliances – investments that help lower bills and reduce emissions. LIHEAP works alongside these utility initiatives to help prevent energy insecurity from cascading into health emergencies or housing instability.
LIHEAP targeting is smart and locally administered, delegating power to the state and local level. States, tribes and territories prioritize households with the highest energy burdens and those with young children, older adults or people with disabilities – ensuring limited dollars go where they protect life and health most. Eligibility parameters are set within federal guardrails and tailored by each jurisdiction, allowing funds to meet on-the-ground needs efficiently.
Support for LIHEAP is also bipartisan – a recognition that extends across the aisle that keeping families safe in extreme heat and cold matters. Continued, robust appropriations reflect years of successful advocacy by AGA and partners across the energy and consumer-protection communities. As Congress works to fund the federal government, national coalitions representing hundreds of organizations are urging Congress to defend and improve LIHEAP funding so states can plan, and families can get the support they need when it is needed most.
LIHEAP saves lives, keeps families whole, and helps Americans afford the essential energy that underpins modern life. Congress has a proven tool in LIHEAP. Fully and consistently funding it is one of the most compassionate and cost-effective choices lawmakers can make this year.