Apply now for LIHEAP program

Every year from Nov. 1 to April 1, all Iowa electric and natural gas utilities participate in a moratorium of disconnection of service for qualifying customers of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered by the Iowa Department of Human Rights. Customers facing hardship in paying for utility service can work with their local community action agency to apply for LIHEAP energy assistance funds, which also protects those customers’ households from utility disconnection.

The application period for LIHEAP began Oct. 1 for households with a resident age 60 or older, a disabled resident, or those who are in housing crisis. Applications for all other renters and homeowners who fall within federal poverty guidelines are accepted beginning Nov. 1. The application period for everyone continues until April 30.

Iowa Administrative Code rules require that electric and natural gas utilities do not conduct disconnection of service during the five-month period for households certified by a community action agency as eligible for LIHEAP or its companion weatherization assistance program.

Additionally, customers who inform their electric or natural gas provider that they are applying for LIHEAP are afforded a 30-day stay of disconnection to allow that application to be processed by the customer’s community action agency. That also applies to applicants who qualify for the Oct. 1 application period.

Community action agencies exist in every Iowa county to help Iowans apply for LIHEAP and to disburse energy assistance funds on behalf of utility customers. LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

IUC staff is actively working with HHS staff to monitor funding updates and plans to provide increased coordination, if needed, to ensure service for at-risk Iowans.

Beyond LIHEAP, Iowa law requires utilities to operate a fund that allows its customers to voluntarily contribute money for deposit in a low-income heating assistance fund. These fund programs go by different names (Project Share, I CARE, etc.), but they all assist low-income consumers with paying energy bills and paying for weatherization of their homes.

Information on LIHEAP and community action agencies is available on the Iowa HHS website, or find out more about how to apply on the IUC website.