Louisiana Contingent to Urge Emergency LIHEAP Funding for Gulf States
Baton Rouge, La. – Customer 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 National Fuel Funds Network’s
Washington Action Day for LIHEAP. The event aimed to raise awareness of the
program’s importance and need for strong funding.
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 Bill Mohl,
president and chief executive officer of Entergy Louisiana, LLC and Entergy Gulf
States Louisiana, L.L.C. “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
Steven Scheurich, vice president of customer service for Entergy’s Louisiana
companies.
“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,” Scheurich 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,” Scheurich 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’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.
-30-
entergy-louisiana.com
Twitter: EntergyMediaLA
