On April 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced terminations that included the entire staff of the department that administers the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Qualifying customers face the risk of their utilities being shut off and their empty propane or fuel oil tanks left unfilled.
LIHEAP is a critical, life-saving program that targets and helps the most vulnerable households pay their utility bills. LIHEAP recipients include seniors, individuals with disabilities, and families with young children.
Wisconsin has most of its federal energy assistance funds for the current fiscal year to help people when the moratorium on utility disconnection ended April 15. However, CUB is concerned about what the staffing cuts could mean for the program later this year and into next winter. When there’s nobody left to administer a program, will the program just evaporate or disintegrate?
CUB, and other groups representing low-income, aging, public health, conservation organizations and small businesses called on Congress to take steps to restore these positions and enable this critically important program to carry on its mission of helping people who are struggling the most to make ends meet.
LIHEAP provides essential winter heating and summer cooling assistance, emergency funding, and weatherization assistance to millions of Americans. In fiscal year 2023, $6.2 billion in total funding was released to support immediate home energy needs and ensure continuity of services. This funding directly helped 5.9 million households and restored energy to homes 261,000 times. A snapshot of the households and types of assistance received during this period follows:
In fiscal 2024, the LIHEAP program in Wisconsin:
- Provided heating bill assistance to 182,939 homes, with an average payment of $315.
- Provided crisis assistance to 87,011 homes, with an average payment of $323.
This devasting blow comes at a time when customers of We Energies and WPS are already contending with Public Service Commission approved 10% increases in their bills for 2025 and 2026, easily outpacing inflation. Alliant, MG&E, and Xcel Energy are seeking a combined $450+ million increase for 2026 and 2027.
If you or someone you know is at risk of utility disconnection, please contact your utility to set up a payment plan. Find more resources about utility assistance here from the PSC. Contact the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) here.
Letter sent to Congress from consumer/low-income/aging/health/conservation advocates plus small businesses.
In the News
Federal heating, air conditioning aid in limbo for Wisconsin – The Capital Times
Future of federal energy assistance uncertain as Wisconsin’s moratorium on utility shutoffs ends – Wisconsin Public Radio
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