Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) assists eligible low-income households with their heating and cooling energy costs, bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, weatherization and energy-related home repairs.

What is LIHEAP and what services are available?

LIHEAP is a federally funded program aimed to assist low-income households that pay a high portion of their income to meet their energy needs. LIHEAP is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services.
There are several portions of the program that help accomplish this goal, such as:

  • The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides one-time financial assistance to help balance an eligible household's utility bill.
  • The Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) provides assistance to low-income households that are in a crisis situation. Such an example would be a household receiving a 24-48 hour disconnect notice or service termination by their utility company. Another example would be a household facing an energy-related crisis that could be deemed potentially life-threatening in the household, such as a combustible appliance.
  • LIHEAP Weatherization provides free energy efficiency upgrades to low-income households to lower their monthly utility bills while also improving the health and safety of the household's occupants.  
  • Education on basic energy efficiency practices and instruction on the proper use and maintenance of installed weatherization measures.
  • Energy budget counseling. 

​Who is eligible for this program?

To be eligible for this benefit program, you must need financial assistance with home energy costs. A person who participates or has family members who participate in certain other benefit programs, such as SNAP, SSI, TANF, may be automatically eligible.

Links to Additional Information and Online Application

You can learn more about the program details using the links below. Although RCMS does not administer this program, outreach staff are able to provide application assistance. Call (707) 882-2189 x 124.
Information from Benefits.gov:
https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/623
 
Online application:
https://www.caliheapapply.com/
 
Information from PGE with links to application:
https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/save-energy-money/help-paying-your-bill/energy-reduction-and-weatherization/liheap/liheap.page?cid=ps_LIHEAP__20210101__Google_All_na&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhP2BBhDdARIsAJEzXlEaUqOHPte2tuiWgec6N64RaVmcb1hwZ6aE-D_6-99Skftb6-ajLmYaAhwKEALw_wcB