Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Archives

Energy, Utilities, & Telecommunications

One in three households in the United States struggles to afford their home energy bills. Among Black and Latino households, those numbers are even larger. NCLC works to make home energy and utility service affordable and available for all, while also expanding access to energy-saving technology and supporting the fight against climate change.

U.S. Consumers Will Save $30 Billion with Proposed Residential Gas Furnace Standards

June 13, 2022

June 13, 2022 Resistance by Gas Utilities Has Not Allowed for a Meaningful Update to Furnace Standards in 35 Years Today, national consumer groups hailed the release of the Department of Energy’s proposal to increase energy efficiency standards for residential furnaces as a crucial step toward saving consumers at least $30.3 billion on their energy…

Report: COVID-Driven Utility Debt Rises in Massachusetts, Urgent Action Needed to Keep the Heat On

November 15, 2021

November 15, 2021 New Analysis Finds Nearly One Million Massachusetts Residential Utility Customers At Risk of Utility Service Being Shut Off Download report at: https://bit.ly/more-covid-util-arrearages BOSTON – Close to a million people could be at risk of losing gas and electric service in Massachusetts, according to a new analysis from the National Consumer Law Center.…

Key Broadband Affordability Wins in Biden's Infrastructure Bill

November 8, 2021

November 8, 2021 U.S. House Votes to Advance President Biden’s Infrastructure Package WASHINGTON – Consumer advocates praised the House passage of H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (or “IIJA”). Along with major items such as investment in water infrastructure, IIJA helps low-income families bear rising energy costs and aims to close the digital…

Advocates Applaud Passage of $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Economic Stimulus to Help Americans but Congress Must Ensure EIPs Feed Families, Not Debt Collectors

March 10, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 10, 2021 Washington, D.C. – Advocates at the National Consumer Law Center praised Congress for passing the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to help struggling families. But they noted that more needs to be done, especially to address the immediate risk, if Congress does not act quickly, that…

COVID-Driven Utility Debt Fuels a Looming Crisis in Shut-offs in Massachusetts and the Nation

February 16, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2021 National Consumer Law Center Analysis Finds Huge Increase in Number of Small Business and Residential Customers at Risk of Termination Download the report at: http://bit.ly/covid-util-arrearages Boston – The COVID-19 crisis put millions of Americans in financial peril, hitting households of color particularly hard. In response, moratoriums on utility shut…

Trump Administration Levels Another Assault on Consumers’ Energy Bills

January 14, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 14, 2021 New Rule Hinders Improvements for Energy Efficiency Standards for Major Residential Gas Appliances Washington, D.C. — Consumer Federation of America and the National Consumer Law Center expressed great disappointment at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) last-minute approval of an anti-consumer rule that effectively keeps inefficient gas furnaces, water…

COVID-19 Crisis: Advocates Call for U.S. Governors to Take Immediate Action to Ensure Residents are Protected from Utility Shut Offs

March 27, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 27, 2020 National Consumer Law Center Contacts: Jan Kruse ([email protected]) Boston – Advocates at the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) called on governors across the nation to take immediate action pursuant to their authority granted under each state’s emergency management act to ensure utility customers remain connected to essential electric, gas, water,…

Cruel Cuts for Struggling Families in the President’s Proposed FY21 Budget

February 10, 2020

Trump again calls for elimination of Legal Services Corp and home energy assistance; supports drastic cuts and changes to weaken the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Washington – President Trump’s proposed budget once again seeks to eliminate funding for programs that have bipartisan support and help rural households, elders, struggling families and veterans, according to advocates at the National Consumer Law…

Report Assesses the Value of Smart Thermostats in Low-Income Weatherization Programs

January 30, 2020

The National Consumer Law Center Finds that Customer Behavior is Key to Success Boston – Smart thermostats are promoted as a measure to produce substantial household energy savings and increased comfort and convenience for residential utility customers, but actual energy savings achieved vary widely, according to a new report by the National Consumer Law Center…

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