Little Rock, Arkansas – Entergy Arkansas consumers who find themselves having trouble paying their winter power bills can apply for financial aid under the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Important for many during the colder months, this program, which officially started receiving applications on January 6, offers up to $475 to assist pay for water, natural gas, and electricity.
LIHEAP seeks to reduce the energy load on low-income homes, many of whom devote more of their income to house energy costs. These costs can soar during winter as heating systems consume more energy. Apart from helping with regular bill payment, the program provides crisis support to people who are immediately threatened to lose their energy services.
Applications for consistent help are accepted from January 6 until the end of March or until available money runs out. Applications for crisis support for individuals in an emergency will be accepted through April 30. Residents can apply online via GETLIHEAP.com or personally by visiting nearby community-based groups.
“Customers can quickly and easily complete the LIHEAP application and upload the required documents from a computer, tablet or smart phone,” said Brandi Hinkle with Entergy Arkansas Corporate Social Responsibility. “We encourage family and friends to help those who might not be as tech-savvy to help expedite their applications when possible.”
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Household size and income define eligibility for the Arkansas program; caps are set at 60% of the state median income or 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. The application requires photo ID, Social Security cards for every family member, evidence of income, proof of residence, and the latest utility bills.
Managing the LIHEAP program, the Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment emphasizes the value of these funds for underprivileged populations including families with young children, the elderly, and those with disabilities. Many of these users have set incomes and must make difficult daily decisions between basic needs such food, medication, and keeping their houses heated.
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Approximately 45% of Entergy Arkansas’s customers qualify as low-income, with annual incomes below $40,000. Although LIHEAP money is available, limited financing means that only a small portion of individuals qualified get aid annually. Of more than 327,000 qualified homes last year, only 66,407 got assistance.
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Entergy Arkansas also provides Level Billing and Pick A Date to assist control energy bills. Apart from that, the organization has set Singlestop, a tool that provides direction on housing, employment, education, and legal help depending on region and need. It also offers a lot of resources on energy economy.
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Entergy Arkansas and community action organizations keep pushing for more significant support from Congress to make sure no household has to suffer the winter without enough heating since LIHEAP money usually runs out before the winter ends.
