Massachusetts to get nearly $131 million in initial heating assistance

Washington (October 25, 2016) – Today, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) commended the Obama administration for releasing the initial batch of funding under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The Department of Health and Human Services today released more than $3 billion dollars, 90 percent of the funding made available under the Continuing Resolution funding the government. Massachusetts will receive nearly $131 million in heating assistance under this initial release. The release comes as the Energy Department has recently warned that consumers could face sharp increases in heating costs this winter.

“We are heading into what could potentially be a home heating disaster this winter for consumers in New England,” said Senator Markey. “I commend the Obama administration for making this release of LIHEAP funds so that Massachusetts and other states can make plans to help ensure that no families are left out in the cold. Given the potentially massive spikes in heating costs that consumers in our region are forecast to face this winter, I will continue to fight in the Senate on a bipartisan basis to increase funding for this vital heating assistance program that really is a lifeline to millions of families each year.”

Consumers in the Northeast are projected to pay significantly more to heat their homes this winter season, according to the Energy Department. Consumers heating with heating oil are projected to spend nearly $400 more to heat their homes this year, a nearly 40 percent increase over last winter. Families heating with natural gas in the Northeast are forecast to spend 29 percent more, an increase of nearly $200. Homes using propane in the Northeast will spend nearly $350 more this winter. And households heating with electricity in our region will spend eight percent more than last winter.

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