The Home Energy Assistance Target (H.E.A.T.) program is the State of Utah’s program through which funds are distributed to the target population. This program is specifically administered by the state and various Associations of Governments (AOG). The Mountain land AOG provides H.E.A.T. assistance to persons in Utah, Wasatch, and Summit Counties. MAG receives nearly $2.5 Million annually.
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Recipients
Program recipients are on the rise. This may be illustrated in the following chart showing the increase in households served by the program in relation to the amount of LIHEAP funds allocated to the State of Utah. Some statistics of note for the State of Utah include:
Coordination with Outside Programs
In addition to providing matching funds through the Leveraging Incentive Program, LIHEAP strives to coordinate efforts with private utility companies and non-profits where federal funding is not available. In the State of Utah, some of these other sources include Rocky Mountain Power’s Home Electric Lifeline and Lend-a-Hand Programs, Questar’s Energy Assistance Fund and REACH program, Catholic Community Services, American Red Cross, and Murray City Relief Program. H.E.A.T. funding applicants may be referred to these or other private assistance groups if there are not sufficient LIHEAP funds. Summary
In summary, the federal LIHEAP program and local HEAT program continue to provide a much needed service to a targeted population consisting of the elderly, the young, and people with disabilities, who have a financial need to heat or cool their homes. The program will succeed only if it continues to create innovative partnerships with utility companies, and efficiently administer the goals of the program from the federal level down to the recipient. Last year, State Officials cut the HEAT benefit by an average of 29% per household, and is projected to drop to another 11% this year. These cuts are anticipated amidst a five percent increase in applicants for the program this fiscal year, thus LIHEAP is constantly striving to foster support through relationships with private utility companies and non-profits where federal funding is unavailable.
Federal funding for the program will continue to face challenges from the global economy, and ever increasing fuel and utility costs, but the hope is that the greater benefit and outcomes from this program will continue to garner the needed support for it to continue.