Hirono Announces Over $7.4 Million to Help Households in Hawaii with Home Energy Costs

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced that Hawaii was awarded over $7.4 million in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This funding will help individuals and families with low incomes in Hawaii lower their home energy costs, such as their cooling bills in the summer.

“As we work to lower costs for families in Hawaii and across the country, it is crucial we enable families and communities to access affordable and reliable home energy,” said Senator Hirono. “By helping to ensure people across our state can afford energy, this funding will help promote the health and safety of keiki, kupuna, and families across the state.”

LIHEAP can also be used to pay home heating costs; reconnect energy services that have been disconnected; provide minor energy-related home repairs; weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient; and mitigate energy emergencies during disasters and extreme weather. The grant—administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—includes $100 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Senator Hirono voted to pass in 2021.

Additionally, the Office of Community Services (OCS)—a department within HHS—launched its LIHEAP Eligibility Tool today. The user-friendly tool allows households across the country to quickly identify whether they are eligible for LIHEAP assistance by inputting basic information, such as income and household size. The LIHEAP Eligibility Tool can be accessed here and is available in Spanish, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.  Those interested in applying for energy assistance can visit energyhelp.us or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline toll-free at 1-866-674-6327.

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