other households .
• Nearly 27 % of Americans reduced or forwent basic expenses such as food and medicine so they could pay their energy bill in the last 12 months .
• One in six people have been unable to pay the full amount of their energy bill at least once in the past year .
• LIHEAP restored power or prevented disconnection 2,757,200 times in FY 2023 .
2 . LIHEAP plays a vital role in protecting families
• 34,000 children were lifted out of poverty because of energy assistance in 2023 .
• 68,000 people age 65 or older were lifted out of poverty because of energy assistance in 2023 .
• In FY 2023 , 60,818 homes were weatherized with LIHEAP funds , improving the health , safety , and affordability for those households .
• Three out of 10 households receiving LIHEAP reported using their kitchen stove to heat their home at least once in the year preceding assistance . LIHEAP helps families avoid dangerous heating practices in winter .
• One in four households receiving LIHEAP reported that they could not afford to address the non-functioning furnace or cooling system in their homes . LIHEAP helps repair and replace broken systems , keeping homes safe and energy efficient .
• The need for year-round LIHEAP offerings is growing , especially the need for cooling assistance . In 2023 , at least 2,325 people in the United States died from heat-related causes , a record high . LIHEAP protects people from extreme heat and cold in their homes . LIHEAP saves lives .
3 . Overcoming energy insecurity requires consistent efforts
• The rising costs of energy , fuel , and other resources are having an impact on affordability . Ongoing support is necessary to continue to address the serious implications of energy insecurity .
• Year-round programming that includes both heating and cooling assistance is becoming increasingly necessary .
• Crisis presents a persistent and insidious state of emergency for LIHEAP families . Consistent and comprehensive funding ensures families maintain a safe home environment year-round .
As commodity prices increase disproportionate to wages and weather-related occurrences become more extreme , funding for LIHEAP has become increasingly strained . LIHEAP is able to serve only about 1 in 5 eligible households with regular appropriations each year . We ask that federal appropriators consider the need for increased funding to ensure adequate resources for the program , including for states that use LIHEAP funds for both cooling and heating homes , which helps mitigate the effects of extreme temperatures and rising commodity prices on household budgets .
There is a clear need to expand resources to support those who have fallen behind . NEUAC and its national coalition , along with the stakeholder organizations across the country that have signed this letter , urge Congress to fully support LIHEAP and maximize funding in FY 2026 . Thank you for your consideration .
� INDUSTRY COALITION URGES REVIEW OF BUILDING ELECTRIFICATION
Industry groups voiced concerns about building electrification policies enacted under the previous administration . On February 21 , the National Energy & Fuels Institute ( NEFI ) and other national organizations expressed their concerns in a letter to Secretary Chris Wright of the Department of Energy and Administrator Lee Zeldin of the Environmental Protection Agency .
The letter , which was submitted by the Institute along with the American Public Gas Association , American Supply Association , National Association of Oil & Energy Service Professionals , National Propane Gas Association , and the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors ( PHCC ) National Association , commended both Wright and Zeldin for their commitment to promoting affordability and consumer choice , and asked that they give special attention to electrification programs established by the Inflation Reduction Act ( IRA ) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( IIJA ), many of which were “ designed to support state and local efforts to ban conventional heating fuels and appliances and force residential electrification , policies that would exponentially increase the cost of housing while limiting access to affordable home comfort solutions .”
“ The previous administration ’ s building electrification policies were deeply flawed . They fail to account for source emissions and the extraordinary costs associated with removal of existing appliances and heating systems and the installation of all-electric appliances and air source heat pumps , nor did they consider whether electrification was either feasible or appropriate for certain households . For many residences , particularly those in states with older buildings and colder climates , these costs can exceed $ 30,000 . Furthermore , these policies do not recognize the benefits of renewable heating fuels or the installation of more efficient liquid- and gas-fired systems .”
The coalition further requests that the agencies withdraw and review all related guidance and “ best practices ” documents , including those provided to states regarding heat pump rebate program requirements , and that the administration conduct a comprehensive review of all building electrification programs .
In addition , industry groups noted that the Trump administration froze nearly all funding for the IRA and IIJA via executive orders , including state grant funding for heat pump rebates and the New England Heat Pump Accelerator program . A number of U . S . District Courts issued temporary restraining orders for the release of these funds , but all electrification funding under the IRA remained frozen , the groups said as of this writing . The “ complex situation … will most likely be decided by the U . S . Supreme Court ,” the groups said .
News continues on page 32 .
8 MARCH 2025 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www . fueloilnews . com