DWS Press Release
November 1, 2018

H.E.A.T. program can help Utah households pay heating and energy costs

Applications for financial assistance through the program can be submitted starting Nov. 1

SALT LAKE CITY (November 1, 2018) — With fall in full swing, some Utahns may already be noticing an increase in their home heating and energy bills. Fortunately, the Home Energy Assistance Target (H.E.A.T.) program may be able to help.

H.E.A.T. helps eligible households pay for home heating, cooling and other energy costs. It can also help weatherize eligible homes, improving energy efficiency and reducing costs.

Applications for assistance will be accepted beginning Nov. 1, 2018, and continue through April 30, 2019, or until funds are exhausted.

“Even as Utah’s unemployment remains low, there are still many families struggling to make ends meet,” said Utah Housing and Community Development Division HEAT Program Manager Sue Kolthoff. “The energy subsidies we are releasing this season will help more families afford heat and avert difficult choices many Utahns face between paying for heat and paying for other essentials like food and medicine.”

To qualify, a family must earn below 150 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $37,656 for a family of four. Priority for H.E.A.T. assistance is given to households with the highest energy burden in relationship to household income while taking into consideration vulnerable individuals such as young children, individuals with disabilities and elderly family members.

To learn more about eligibility and how to apply, visit jobs.utah.gov/heat or by call 2-1-1.

About H.E.A.T.

The H.E.A.T. program is administered by the State Energy Assistance and Lifeline office through a statewide network of local community-based organizations. Last year, the funding enabled H.E.A.T. to assist more than 29,000 low-income Utah households with their utility bills.

The H.E.A.T. program is Utah’s version of the federal LIHEAP program (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program LIHEAP). It is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Utah’s State Energy Assistance and Lifeline Office is managed by the Utah Housing and Community Development Division within the Utah Department Workforce Services.

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