Washington D.C. – The federal government today released $1,393,805 in emergency Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding to Wisconsin, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl announced.  The funding is part of $311 million released nationwide by the Administration.  Including this funding, Wisconsin has received more than $130 million in federal LIHEAP funding during Fiscal Year 2011.  

Senator Kohl has been a long time supporter of the LIHEAP program. In November 2010, Kohl sent a letter, along with a bi-partisan group of colleagues, to Senators Daniel Inouye, Thad Cochran, and Tom Harkin asking the Appropriations Committee for continued funding levels for LIHEAP.

"Though it is technically Spring, the snowfall last month reminded us how important it is that low-income families have access to home heating assistance. Many of us take for granted that energy is available when we turn on a light bulb or heat our homes. Energy is expensive and hard to come by for many Wisconsinites," Kohl said. "This additional funding for LIHEAP will allow this program to continue providing help with energy bills to families who need it most."              

According to the Wisconsin Department of Administration Division of Energy, last year LIHEAP funding assisted more than 220,000 Wisconsin households with their heating bills.  The average income of these households was about $14,000 – and more than half of these households was home to a child under 5 years old or a senior 60 or older.            

To ensure that families do not lose power during the winter, Wisconsin utilities are prohibited from disconnecting customers from November 1st through April 15th.  To find out more information about LIHEAP, residents can call 1-866-HEATWISC (432-8947) or visit http://www.homeenergyplus.wi.gov/.