New Funds Available For CT Families To Heat Homes This Winter: Lamont

CONNECTICUT — In the wake of unusually high energy prices this winter, the state will be kicking in additional cash to keep the home fires burning.

The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program will allow all participating households that heat with deliverable fuels such as home heating oil to receive an additional crisis assistance benefit worth $430 this winter season, above the amount they were already able to receive.

The funds will be drawn from the national Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Congress approved through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, last week. An estimated $20 million of the $1 billion allocation will be heading Connecticut's way for additional CEAP funding, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Friday.

Coupled with the existing basic benefit and crisis assistance benefits, the additional $430 benefit means families heating with deliverable fuels like heating oil and propane can now access up to $2,320 per household to help pay their heating bills. Total benefits for deliverable fuel households now range from $1,110 to $2,320, up from $680 to $1,890 or by as much as 63 percent for certain households.

"I urge residents who may need assistance to consider applying for this program to get them through the winter months," Lamont said. "I am grateful to Connecticut’s Congressional delegation for securing additional federal funds for this fiscal year.”

Interested households should apply online or contact their local community action agency. Households can find their local community action agency and other services on the state website. Additional assistance is available by calling 2-1-1.