WASHINGTON, DC – Today, US Senator Herb Kohl announced the release of more than $50 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to Wisconsin. This federal funding announced today supplements more than $77 million that was made available in December 2010, bringing the total to $128.4 million for fiscal year 2011.  LIHEAP funding assists seniors and low income families with their energy bills.  For these families, LIHEAP is a vital safety net that will save them from making the tough choice between paying their energy bill or putting food on the table.

Senator Kohl has been a chief proponent of LIHEAP in the Senate and worked with his colleagues in December to secure language in the most recent Continuing Resolution to encourage the release of funds equal to the levels allocated during fiscal year 2010.  

"We have more cold days ahead of us, and LIHEAP is a crucial bridge for the elderly and low-income working families when higher heating bills exceed their monthly budgets.  LIHEAP helps keep hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin homes warm during our long winters," Kohl said.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Administration's Division of Energy, the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program – which is supported by LIHEAP funding – served 221,663 Wisconsin households in Fiscal Year 2010, totaling 557,728 individuals.

For more information on the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, please visit http://homeenergyplus.wi.gov/ or call the Wisconsin Division of Energy Services at 1- 866-HEATWIS (432-8947).