Low-Income Rhode Islanders Can Apply For $52.6M In Utility Grants

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island will allocate $21.8 million over the next year to help low-income residents pay utility bills, Gov. Dan McKee announced Tuesday.

The state also received more than $30 million from the federal government's American Rescue Plan Act for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, bringing the total funding to $52.6 million for the 2022 fiscal year.

"Rhode Islanders should not have to choose between putting food on the table and keeping their utilities on," McKee said. "These federal programs are a lifeline to help people experiencing hardships prevent shut-offs and stay up-to-date on utility bills. On average, LIHEAP helps 30,000 households in Rhode Island every season. I urge eligible Rhode Islanders to apply for these grants and take advantage of energy assistance this year."

Individual household grants range from $555 to $1,201, awarded in two categories: heating assistance and crisis assistance. Heating grants help households keep their homes warm throughout the winter. Crisis grants help resolve a sudden heat shut-off caused by failure to pay the utility company, the inability to pay for a fuel delivery or a failed, non-repairable heating system.

McKee also announced the addition of the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, which, like the heating grants, help cover water bills. These grants are one-time payments up to $500 to pay a water or wastewater bill.

"We know our neighbors all across the state are still feeling the impact of the pandemic," said Womazetta Jones, the secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. "We need to help everyone recover from the economic hardship that the pandemic has brought. It has been an uneven economic recovery, and we need to continue to focus on equity as we build back better and come out of this unprecedented time."

From October 2020 to May 2021, more than 26,000 Rhode Island households received non-crisis heating grants, along with 1,800 crisis grants. More than 24,000 households were awarded cooling grants, as well. This season, the RI Department of Human Services and local Community Action Program hope to help 45,000 households this season.

To be eligible for a heating grant, households must meet 60 percent of the state's median income level. Applicants do not need to be on public assistance or have an unpaid bill to qualify, and can apply whether they own or rent their home.