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“As New York continues facing extreme and potentially dangerous cold weather, we must ensure that every person has access to reliable, affordable, and sufficient heat to stay safe at home,” Sen. Gillibrand said.
By Forum Staff
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on Thursday announced her plan to introduce the Heating and Cooling Relief Act of 2022, which would invest $40 billion in annual funding to expand access to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and expand eligibility criteria so families never pay more than 3 percent of their annual income on energy costs. In addition to helping end energy poverty, this bicameral legislation would ensure that every household receiving LIHEAP funds can have their utility debt cleared and would help New York reach its energy goals by supporting the transition away from fossil fuel consumption.
LIHEAP is a severely underfunded program that has only been able to reach approximately 16 percent of eligible households in recent years. In New York State alone, there are already more than 1.2 million households that collectively owe roughly $1.7 billion in late energy payments—this burden is disproportionately shouldered by low-income, Black, Hispanic, and Native American households that are forced to pay large shares of their monthly incomes on energy bills, Gillibrand said. This bill would protect New York consumers by ensuring that every household receiving LIHEAP funds can have their utility debt cleared and that no eligible households have their utilities shut off, especially during winter months. High energy burdens are also linked to greater risk for respiratory diseases, and as the Omicron variant continues to spread across New York, it’s vital that people have the financial backing to safely shelter in place without needing to rely on alternative sources of heat, Gillibrand said.
Specifically, the Heating and Cooling Relief Act:
- Increases annual funding for LIHEAP to $40 billion and expands eligibility to ensure that no household pays more than three percent of its annual income on energy costs;
- Minimizes the barriers to administering and applying for LIHEAP by allowing households to self-attest to eligibility criteria; increases the administrative cap for outreach, technological, and staffing purposes; and ensures LIHEAP coordinators are paid at least a living wage;
- Protects consumers by ensuring that no eligible household has its utilities shut off or pays late fees, that every household receiving funds can have its utility debt cleared, and that utility companies set up discounted payment plans to support consumers;
- Ensures states can use LIHEAP to address climate adaptation by increasing funding for cooling assistance and ensuring households can access utility assistance during major disasters; and
- Increases funding made available for weatherization through LIHEAP, and establishes a new Just Transition Grant for states and localities to help reduce energy burdens for LIHEAP-eligible households and promote renewable energy usage.
“No person or family should ever go without adequate heat,” Gillibrand added. “This bill would ensure that low-income families never pay more than 3 percent of their annual income on energy costs, even in the coldest winter months. As New York continues facing extreme and potentially dangerous cold weather, we must ensure that every person has access to reliable, affordable, and sufficient heat to stay safe at home.”
