Louisiana Contingent Urges Emergency LIHEAP Funding for Gulf States
New Orleans, La. – Consumer advocates
and employees of Entergy’s Louisiana companies visited Capitol Hill and Congress
on Wednesday to fight for increased funding for the Low-Income Home Energy
Assistance Program and for that assistance to extend to victims of the Gulf of
Mexico oil spill.
The group, joined by individuals who
have received LIHEAP assistance during challenging financial crises, took part
in the first hot weather LIHEAP Action Day and met with each member of the
Louisiana Congressional Delegation.
LIHEAP is a primary tool that helps
working-poor families, especially those with preschoolers, and elderly or
disabled individuals who are struggling to pay for their heating and cooling
costs. Voluntary customer assistance programs run by Entergy, other utilities
and charities don’t have the resources to meet the growing need.
“We have pressing economic problems
in our coastal communities. The oil spill has already affected thousands of
Louisiana families today, and the economic impact is growing,” said Charles
Rice, president and CEO of Entergy New Orleans, Inc. “At current funding levels,
LIHEAP helps less than 20 percent of the Louisiana families who qualify for
assistance. We are urging additional funding and the release of LIHEAP emergency
funds to provide important and timely assistance for families who need help
now.”
The event on Wednesday was the first
Action Day held during the summer to draw attention to the needs of Americans in
warm-weather states. Nationwide, only about 10 percent of LIHEAP funds are
devoted to summer cooling programs. Federal statistics show temperatures are
running above normal throughout much of the nation so far in 2010.
“Extreme summertime heat is America’s
number one weather-related killer. High temperatures killed more people between
1994 and 2003 than tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and lightning combined,” said
Melonie Hall, director of customer service, Entergy New Orleans.
“Looking at the national picture, our
country has millions who’ve lost jobs over the last two years, which is
translating into the need to strengthen LIHEAP more than ever before. It is one
of the most efficient and effective programs the government has to help people
in crisis,” Hall added.
Entergy is 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.
“Over a span of two months, local
relief agencies facilitated nearly 3,400 requests for bill assistance from oil
spill victims,” Hall said. “Additionally, more than 17,000 individuals have
received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities since May 1. We know these
numbers will continue to grow as the effects of the spill spread and that’s why
we support Senator Landrieu and Representative Melancon’s request for $20
million in emergency funding for the Gulf Coast region.”
Entergy New Orleans, Inc. is an
electric and gas utility serving Orleans Parish and is a subsidiary of Entergy
Corporation. The company provides electricity to more than 150,000 customers and
natural gas to more than 96,000 customers in Orleans Parish.
Entergy’s Louisiana utility companies
serve more than one million customers through the operating companies Entergy
Louisiana, LLC and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C. With operations in
southern, central and northeastern Louisiana, the companies are part of Entergy
Corporation’s electric system serving 2.7 million customers in Louisiana,
Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas.
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