Chaleski Promotes Opening Of Early Intake Applications For LIHEAP

**News Release Submitted by State Rep. Rachel Chaleski**

Aug. 30, 2023

Community Action agencies will begin accepting early intake applications starting September 1st for the Fiscal Year 2024 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

“When the 2023 General Assembly session began, I introduced HB 6056 to make higher-margin payments to heating fuel companies participating in LIHEAP anytime the wholesale price of diesel reaches $3 per gallon. When the price goes above that threshold, I proposed that vendors pay a fixed margin of 75-cents per gallon. I was hoping to maximize the limited resources in this federally funded program to better serve LIHEAP applicants, in order to better provide more consistent service to those who need it most,” said Representative Rachel Chaleski (R-138).

This bill received a public hearing by the Energy and Technology Committee. It was not voted on in that committee, however, the concepts were raised by the Human Services Committee as that committee oversees the Department of Social Services (DSS).

“I introduced the LIHEAP vendor bill because vendor participation is voluntary and supplier interest was waning due to rising costs,” said Chaleski.

In May of 2022, the highest recorded average price for a gallon of home heating oil in Connecticut reached $6.37. Prices began to decline to the high-$3, low-$4 range by the end of winter in early 2023 and now are around the $4 range. According to the Connecticut Heating Oil Regional Retail prices from the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the lowest price in the state is about $3.40 and the highest is $5.10.

“I supported the Human Services Committee bill being considered about LIHEAP administration. That bill, SB 1110, passed by way of the bipartisan biennium budget approved in the final days of the legislative session,” noted Chaleski.

The final budget language addressing LIHEAP requires DSS to ensure an adequate supply of vendors for the program by establishing county and regional pricing standards for deliverable fuel, reimbursing fuel providers based on the price of the fuel on the date of delivery, and allowing a vendor to electronically submit an authorized fuel slip or invoice for payment. They would also have the option to be paid electronically by the community action agency, no later than ten business days after receiving an authorized fuel slip or invoice.

“DSS uses the New Haven wholesale average to set the price each day for reimbursement to vendors. Some go directly to the New Haven docks to pick up their home heating fuel allocations, while others rely on trucks to ship it to their area. The State of Connecticut made this more expensive by implementing a Highway Use Tax on large trucks. I also joined my colleagues in calling for a repeal of the HUT, but we were only able to address some of the administrative burden, not the financial burden. Trucking companies will only have to submit HUT payments quarterly rather than monthly. I will renew my call for a repeal of the tax in the next legislative session,” said Chaleski.

A one-time cash benefit is paid every fuel delivery season by DSS and the Community Action Agencies to vendors for households who qualify through income thresholds to help offset home energy costs of Connecticut’s lower income households. The proposed 2024 benefits range from $180 to $530. Important dates to note include November 1, the first day for fuel deliveries that can be paid by the program, and May 31, the last day a household can apply to establish its eligibility for benefits.