U.S. releases funds to help pay energy bills

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday announced the release of more than $7.8 million in block grant and emergency contingency funds to Utah to help families in need pay their home energy bills.

The funds are administered by the Administration for Children and Families through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP.

The funding to Utah is part of an additional $1 billion in LIHEAP funding for fiscal year 2006 released to states, tribes and territories nationwide.

So far, a total of $3.1 billion nationwide has been made available in fiscal year 2006, including a total of $600 million in emergency contingency funding. In addition, the federal government has another $101 million that remains available for crises through the emergency contingency fund.

Each year, almost 5 million low-income households across the country receive LIHEAP assistance. LIHEAP helps eligible families pay for home heating and insulation in winter and cooling their homes in the warmer months.

People interested in applying for LIHEAP assistance should contact their local or state LIHEAP agency. Details are available online at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap or www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/brochure.html.