October 27, 2023 3:00 a.m.

On Thursday, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced that Oregon was awarded $40.2 million in federal funding to help low-income households and Tribes pay for energy bills, prevent utility shut-offs and more.

Wyden said, “With temperatures forecast to drop near or below freezing this weekend in Oregon, this assistance is especially timely”. Wyden said, “These federal funds will help Oregonians already struggling to make the choice between paying for utilities or food. Maintaining a warm home in cold weather is crucial, especially for households with young children, older adults, and people with disabilities”.

Merkley said, “Countless Oregon families are living paycheck-to-paycheck and struggling to pay their monthly bills”. Merkley said, “The assistance from the LIHEAP program will help keep the homes of Oregonians warm this winter and help ease the financial burden of rising utility costs”.

The release said administered through the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Community Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income households pay home heating and cooling bills, prevent energy shutoffs, restore services, make minor energy-related home repairs, and weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient.

Of the $40.2 million, LIHEAP is funding nearly $38.5 million to the state, with just over $639,000 going directly to Tribes. Over $1.1 million came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.