The Biden Administration renewed funding for a federal program that helps lower energy bills, according to an announcement on Tuesday.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program offers financial assistance with energy bills to eligible individuals and families.
"This funding is a lifeline for low-income communities. It helps keep your energy bills low so that you can keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and it's going to allow families to afford home energy costs on top of other essentials like food, medicine and housing," according to Maggie Thomas, the chief of staff for the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy.
Florida is set to receive $106 million in LIHEAP funding for the 2024 federal fiscal year, which spans Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024. For fiscal year 2023, the state was awarded nearly $203 million in LIHEAP funding.
Last year, Florida experienced record demand for the federal program. In Hillsborough County, officials said that many residents were struggling to keep up with climbing energy costs and overdue electric bills.
READ MORE: As electricity costs surge, more Hillsborough residents are struggling to keep their lights on
Since then, in 2023, many consumers in the greater Tampa Bay region have received notices of rate increases. Florida Power and Light, Duke Energy, and Tampa Electric Co. proposed rent increases in January citing the need to recoup hurricane losses and offset higher natural gas prices.
Thomas said there's a connection between more frequent extreme weather events and the climbing cost of home energy nationally.
"In 2023, there's been 24 extreme climate disasters across the country that have each caused a billion dollars of damage or more. That is a really, really big number. And that has a significant impact on families across the country. When you think about specifically the cost of energy," she said.
Thomas says that's especially true in Florida, where severe hurricanes have impacted energy costs.
Research shows consumers are also often footing the bill for storm preparations by energy servicers — even if their area isn't directly hit — according to a WUSF report.
Beyond helping lessen the energy burden on consumers generally, LIHEAP funds "may be used for weather related emergencies, supply shortage emergencies, and other household energy related emergencies including the reconnection of electrical service," according to a memo by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
States hold discretion with how to distribute the federal funds. Individuals can also check identify their eligibility status by visiting energyhelp.us.
Gabriella Paul covers the stories of people living paycheck to paycheck in the greater Tampa Bay region for WUSF. She's also a Report for America corps member. Here’s how you can share your story with her.
