by Donald Eng
HARTFORD, CT – The leaders of all six New England states are asking Congress to provide an additional $3 billion in federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program this winter. In a letter to congressional appropriations leadership, the group cited sharply rising energy costs, particularly in heating oil.
New England homes rely on deliverable oil at some of the highest rates in the nation. That leaves them especially exposed to dramatic price increases this winter, the letter warns. The governors urged quick action on home heating aid. As winter approaches, they said, many households will struggle to afford to heat their homes.
“More than one third of households in Connecticut depend on deliverable oil to heat their homes. As oil prices spike and temperatures drop, these families — many of whom are already living on tight budgets — are going to struggle to fill up their fuel tanks due to international factors that are no fault of their own,” Gov. Ned Lamont said. “With winter approaching, we ask that Congress allocate additional federal funds for this extremely important home heating assistance program.”
Along with Lamont, Govs. Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Dan McKee of Rhode Island, Janet Mills of Maine, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, and Phil Scott of Vermont signed the letter.
Connecticut already added $12.7M in home heating aid
Last month, Lamont announced that he is releasing $12.7 million in emergency state aid from Connecticut’s Federal Cuts Response Fund. The money supplements the state’s allocation of federal LIHEAP funding. Still, he warned that the dramatic price increases will likely continue and hit homes across the country.
Connecticut households that need home heating aid can visit ct.gov/heatinghelp to learn how to apply.
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