Gov’t funding to help pay power bills is depleted

By The Star Staff

Funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) was depleted after the government received 55,000 applications for assistance with paying the power utility bill, officials announced Monday.

Family Secretary Ciení Rodríguez Troche and Family Socioeconomic Development (ADSEF by its Spanish acronym) Administrator Alberto Fradera said their agencies reached the end of “Energy Crisis” assistance from LIHEAP after receiving a flood of applications.

“With this million-dollar assistance we support more than 55,000 families to maintain their energy service,” Rodríguez Troche said. “Although we received additional funds to expand this program, the high demand for energy payment applications and their approval in record time has made us determined to complete the program before its closing date on September 30, 2024. We have already reached the limit of the resources allocated for this incentive.”

As of last Thursday, some 55,297 applications had been received for approximate payments totaling $14 million in assistance for LIHEAP.

“A month ago, we submitted a request for additional funds to the federal government due to the high volume of requests to assist the number of families who had submitted their information,” Fradera said. “We obtained approval and Puerto Rico received an additional $1.6 million for the Energy Crisis program.”

The ADSEF chief noted that after receiving the application, it is reviewed to determine eligibility and the amount of payment to be submitted. Payment is made directly to the energy service provider.

“We recognize that some families face challenges in complying with utility payments, and this benefit to comply with energy payments offers them respite,” the Family secretary said.

Under the energy subsidy program, an amount is set aside from the total funds received to assist older adults. This year, that assistance amounts to $4.6 million. Since 2021, more than $128 million in LIHEAP financial assistance has been awarded to low-income families through ADSEF.