The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, commonly referred to as LIHEAP, is a federally-funded program meant to help eligible households meet their home heating or cooling needs.
Roger McCann with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services says the budget is always a question mark — as it depends on how much legislators in Washington approve.
"LIHEAP funds are appropriated by Congress every October and we're always subject to whether they want to increase or decrease or not fund at all. There have been some folks who would like to defund the program," he told an interim committee Thursday. "But we're going to go ahead and file as though we will be receiving those funds."
The anticipated funding for FY27 is $54 million. But Rep. Adam Moore expressed concern about the president's proposed budget, which would do away with the assistance entirely.
The Lexington Democrat said his colleagues should be "making sure that we are doing everything we can as legislators to reach out to those who are part of our congressional delegation to look out for these tens of thousands of Kentucky households who are benefitting from keeping their power on."
LIHEAP can assist eligible households that receive disconnect or past due notices.
The committee discussion came as Kentucky Utilities has suspended disconnections due to extreme high temperatures.