SAINT PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Department
of Commerce announced today that Minnesota will receive an additional
$15,814,434 in federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds
for the Energy Assistance Program (EAP). The total amount of funds Minnesota
has received this year is $114,540,746. The LIHEAP program in Minnesota
helps low-income homeowners and renters pay heating bills through grant money
paid directly to utility companies and heating fuel vendors on behalf of
customers.
This announcement is critical for Minnesota’s low-income households,
especially those with seniors, young children, veterans, and people with
disabilities. The ongoing sub-zero, arctic weather and sky-rocketing
propane prices have added additional stress to family budgets. To address
this need, the Department of Commerce recently increased crisis benefits from
$500 to $1,000 for households that heat with propane or heating oil. The
additional LIHEAP funds announced today is greatly needed and with projected
sub-zero temperatures continuing in the next few weeks, the State of Minnesota
is calling on Congress to provide additional funding.
“These
critical federal dollars will make a difference to help Minnesotans who
struggle to pay for home heating and make ends meet in the cold winter months
ahead. The Minnesota Commerce Department has and will work hard to make sure
these funds best help low-income families and individuals in need of energy
assistance," said Commissioner Mike Rothman. “No Minnesotan should be
without a warm place to call home during this bitterly cold winter.”
The Minnesota
Department of Commerce administers the LIHEAP in partnership with 32 local
service providers throughout the state. LIHEAP is federally funded through the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program helps renters and
homeowners earning less than 50 percent of the state’s median income ($42,789
for a family of four) obtain grant money to help pay their heating bills.
Last year, Minnesota served 147,636 households and renters with $109 million in
federal funds.
How to apply:
Qualifying
families must apply for assistance at the local service provider in their area.
Funding is limited and is administered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Interested households should contact their local service provider by calling
1-800-657-3710 or visiting the Energy Assistance section of the
Commerce Department’s website (mn.gov/commerce/energy). The Minnesota EAP is
supported by federal LIHEAP funding and administered by the Minnesota
Department of Commerce.
State
Emergency Operations Center:
Governor Mark
Dayton declared a State of Peacetime Emergency in Minnesota in response
to the persistent cold weather and the increased risk households may run out of
heating fuel, a situation that would pose immediate threat to public safety.
This declaration activated the state’s emergency operations center housing a
hotline for Minnesota residents with questions about the current propane
situation or who are in danger of running out of heating fuel.
Minnesotans can call 651-297-1304 in the metro area or 1-800-657-3504 in
greater Minnesota.
What consumers and Minnesota residents can do to stay
safe:
People who use propane to heat their homes can take
several steps at this time.
· Conserve energy as much as possible. Turn down
thermostats and be aware of your propane use.
· Check in on your family members, neighbors and
friends. Call 9-1-1 only in a crisis
·
State Hotline and Department
of Commerce online resources are available
o 1-800-657-3504 in greater Minnesota
o 651-297-1304 in the metro area
Use Alternative Heat Sources Safely:
People often turn to alternative heat sources to stay
warm when the temperature plummets. The State Fire Marshal (SFM) reminds
residents to use caution when using alternative heating sources.
Types of alternative heating sources often seen include:
· Portable electric heaters
· Liquid-fueled heaters:
· Kerosene
· Waste oil
· Gas-burning heaters – Propane is most common
· Solid-fuel heating:
· Wood-burning
· Pellet-burning
Any heating appliance with an open flame needs to be
vented to the outside because the combustion process of burning fuel uses
oxygen and also gives off carbon monoxide — a deadly combination inside of a
home.
Other tips when using alternative heat sources:
· Keep anything flammable -- including pets and people
-- at least three feet away from heating equipment.
· Make sure portable space heaters have an automatic
shut-off.
· Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or
going to bed.
· Space heaters need constant watching. Never leave a
space heater on when you go to sleep. Never place a space heater close to any
sleeping person.
· Make sure all cords on electric heaters are in good
shape and checked periodically for any frays or breaks in the insulation
surrounding the wires.
· Check the cord and outlet occasionally for
overheating; if it feels hot, discontinue use.
· Place the heater on a level, hard and nonflammable
surface, not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes.
· Use a heater that has been tested to the latest safety
standards and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. These
heaters will have the most up to date safety features; older space heaters may
not meet the newer safety standards.
Stay Warm Minnesota
Other forms of assistance may be available through county social service
programs, community-based organizations, and nonprofit agencies.
