SELECT Americans are getting more money to help heat their living spaces this fall.
It comes as part of a supplemental payment for an energy bill assistance initiative in a key state.
Many Americans are getting help to heat their homes this year (stock image)[/caption]
Thanks to the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) and Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA), a one-time supplemental cash distribution is going out this month to some residents, per a September 15 news release.
Those eligible recipients who are already enrolled in the federally-funded Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will automatically get between $25 and $53 toward utility bills.
Amounts will vary depending on the assistance they already received for heating costs, no matter if it was directly applied to a utility provider or used for “bulk fuel purchases.”
For those who got LIHEAP directly applied to bills from utility providers already, the “supplemental payments will be sent directly to the primary heating provider on record, such as a gas or electric company,” according to the West Virginia Department of Human Services.
“Recipients who used LIHEAP funds for bulk fuel purchases will receive payments by mail.”
The DoHS explained that the supplemental amounts would arrive by September 30, meaning they’re likely going out today.
West Virginia residents with questions about the supplemental payment are encouraged to get in touch with their local DoHS office.
They can also call the Office of Constituent Services’ Client Services Unit at 1-800-642-8589, or email osaclientservices@wv.gov.
NORTH DAKOTA
There are also at least four energy credits going out to eligible Americans in other states next month.
In North Dakota, for example, qualifying residents can get assistance with payments for heating bills starting October 1 as part of LIHEAP.
LIHEAP, in most cases, offers money once annually for heating costs between October 1 and May 31 worth up to $1,100.
Those who are eligible must be at or below 60% of North Dakota’s median income.
The thresholds vary depending on household size, with only one resident needing to make no more than $40,350 a year to get the LIHEAP benefits.
ILLINOIS INVESTMENT
Illinois is offering a $300 bonus credit towards energy bills.
Energy Bills: By the Numbers
- 64% of Americans whose household pays a monthly electric and gas utility bill say those bills have increased compared to a year ago.
- 63% of billpayers indicate that their electric and gas utility bills are adding to their financial stress.
- 48% of all Americans say that rising electric and gas utility bills for consumers like them is a bad sign for the economy.
- 60% of Americans say they are not familiar with the state or local regulatory body that determines their utility bills. In a separate open-ended question, around 9 in 10 respondents could not correctly name their specific regulatory body.
Source: PowerLines
The city of Carbondale, located about 100 miles southeast of St. Louis, Missouri, is distributing the cash to those residents who get their electric and natural gas services from provider Ameren.
The residents must attend the Ameren Illinois Community Development Workshop on October 2, per a press release.
Space is limited and it’s a first-come, first-serve opportunity, with Ameren encouraging customers to pre-register.
Once they complete the workshop, the $300 credit will automatically be applied to their Ameren Illinois account.
CALI CASH
In California, the Climate Credit is awarding cash to residents in October averaging between $56 and $81, according to the state’s Public Utilities Commission.
For some, the funds could be as high as $259, but exact amounts depend on the utility company they use.
There’s no action required for residents, such as filling out an application, to get the money for energy bills.
Additionally, Americans nationwide can get as much as $3,200 thanks to the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit.
This cash can be claimed by those who made eligible energy-efficient improvements to their home throughout 2025.
The credit is equivalent to 30% of expenses made toward the improvements during the taxable year.
It must be claimed on or before December 31, 2025.
An HVAC tech also recently told The US Sun that a little-known “temperature” mistake is likely costing many Americans hundreds of dollars on their energy bills.
There’s even a quick laundry switch that could save $200 a year on energy bills, according to another expert we spoke with recently.
