Group Part of National Drive to Add Funding for LIHEAP

Jackson, Miss. – As energy bills arrive itemizing the cost of warding off record summer heat, customer advocates are heading to Congress to urge continued strong funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Although the number of households helped by LIHEAP increased in 2009, the federal program still reaches only one out of every five eligible households across the nation. In Mississippi, only 17 percent of eligible households receive help from LIHEAP.

Entergy employees, advocates and LIHEAP recipients are taking part in the National Fuel Funds Network’s Washington Action Day for LIHEAP on July 28 to draw attention to the need for strong funding. LIHEAP is the primary tool to help working-poor families, especially those with preschoolers, elderly or disabled individuals who are struggling to pay their heating and cooling costs. Voluntary initiatives run by Entergy, other utilities and charities don’t have the resources to meet the growing need.

It is the first time that LIHEAP Action Day has been held in the summer, which is meant to help draw attention to the needs of at-risk Americans in warm-weather states. Nationwide, only about 10 percent of LIHEAP funds are devoted to summer cooling programs. Federal statistics show the first half of 2010 has been the warmest year on record.

“Extreme summertime heat is America’s number one weather-related killer,” said Liz Brister, manager of external affairs for Entergy Mississippi, Inc. “On average, more than 1,500 people in the U.S. die each year from excessive heat--that’s more than the 30-year average number of deaths from tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and lightning combined!”

“When you add that physical danger to the economic problems facing Mississippians and other Southerners who’ve lost jobs over the last two years, the need to strengthen LIHEAP is greater than ever before. It’s one of the most efficient and effective programs the government has to help people in crisis,” she added.

Entergy employees and other advocates are urging Congress to budget at least $5.1 billion for LIHEAP during federal fiscal year 2011 and reauthorize the program through 2014. Funding for LIHEAP has been at $5.1 billion since the recession hit with full force in the fall of 2008.

“Local administrators are reporting there’s a growing need,” said Brister. “At current funding levels, LIHEAP can only serve about 20 percent of those who need help, so there is significant unmet need out there. Releasing LIHEAP contingency funds now would mean help for hundreds more Mississippi families.”

LIHEAP Washington Action Day is also sponsored by the Edison Electric Institute and the American Gas Association.

Entergy Mississippi, Inc. provides electricity to more than 435,000 customers in 45 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

-30-
entergy-mississippi.com.
Twitter: @EntergyMediaMS