JACKSON, Mississippi – During LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) Action Day today, Entergy Mississippi representatives and community partners will make the case for increased funding of the program. The funding goal is at least $4.7 billion for 2017.
Face-to-face meetings with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill will address the need for better funding for hot-weather states through the federal program. Advocates will also highlight the current method of distributing available funds, which leaves many families in the hottest, poorest states struggling to meet heating and cooling costs.
LIHEAP funding has dropped by a third from $5.1 billion in 2009 to $3.4 billion today. This reduction limits the level of assistance available to more than 3.8 million qualifying households in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas – the four states in which Entergy’s customers live.
Restoring funding could result in an estimated $450 million in assistance for thousands of qualifying households in Entergy’s utility service area. In 2015, these states received an estimated $210 million from LIHEAP. Mississippi residents received $28.9 million. Within Entergy Mississippi’s service territory, more than 25,800 families were helped.
“The $240 million difference reflects the magnitude of need that cannot currently be met unless Congress properly funds and distributes the LIHEAP dollars,” said Amy Reed, Entergy Mississippi customer service specialist. “Participating in LIHEAP Action Day is one of the many ways we power life for our customers, including those in need.”
Read more about Entergy’s low-income initiatives here<http://www.entergy.com/
