MOVING HAWAI'I ISLAND
Right in time for the New Year, over 2,000 households on Hawai'i island received credits to assist with energy costs. In Hawai'i we don't worry about heating during the winter months, however, because of the cost of fuel, we do pay more than twice the national average for electricity. The credits awarded are applied by HELCO and Hawai'i Gas directly to the household's utility cost.
Both energy companies have been developing lower costing energy sources at the same time partnering with HCEOC and the State Department of Human Services to assist low-income households to meet their needs. These households already struggle with the high cost of living in Hawai'i and often find themselves juggling their monthly bills and making hard decisions between paying for electricity and food or medication.
HCEOC currently administers the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP Energy Credit Program provides assistance to eligible low-income households with payment of their utility bill. The energy credit is applied by HELCO directly to the household's utility costs. Applications for this program are only accepted in June.
While this program makes a big impact the need is more than the current level of resources. Because of this HCEOC is committed to looking for other partners in developing funding solutions to meet the need.
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