Beat the Heat with Utility Assistance

Summer comes with a lot of traditions. Some are fun, like floating the river. Some are painful, like the intense sunburn you got from all the floating. And others are downright shocking — like the surge of anxiety you probably feel looking at your utility bill for July.

In the summer months, utility bills can climb up to 45% higher than usual as folks bust out their box fans and crank up the A/C. But before you start to sweat the extra expense, check with your state and tribe to learn about utility assistance that may be available to you.

Through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the federal government helps families pay their utility bills. These funds can also be used to “weatherize” your home (for example, adding insulation or weather stripping that makes the home more efficient to heat and cool.) Use these links to find the agency overseeing LIHEAP where you reside: State and Tribe.

Separate from federal initiatives, some tribes offer their own energy assistance programs with different requirements than the LIHEAP program. So, even if you don’t qualify under the federal standards, it’s worth a call to your tribe to see if you qualify for a different program.