The Rise of The Federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

For over 40 years, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has provided essential support to more than SIX MILLION low-income households annually, helping them afford their energy bills during both cold winters and hot summers. 

1973

LIHEAP has its roots in the 1970s energy crisis, beginning with Maine’s “Project Fuel” in response to the 1973-74 OPEC Oil Embargo. The embargo caused a major oil crisis, with prices quadrupling, leading to increased energy costs.  Weatherizing homes was the project’s main focus, but the money was also used for crisis counseling and purchasing fuel in emergency situations. 

1975

Project Fuel led to the (first) federal program - the Emergency Energy Conservation Program (EECP) in 1975.  EECP focused primarily on weatherization and conservation and allowed funds to be used for fuel voucher programs. By FY 1979, the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program replaced the weatherization conducted under the EECP. 

1981

In 1981, Congress replaced LIEAP with LIHEAP. Under LIHEAP, grantees could run cooling programs not based on medical necessities, they could offer weatherization, and eligibility levels could be set as high as 150% of federal poverty guidelines (FPG) or 60% of state median income (SMI), whichever was greater.

Source: LIHEAP CLEARINGHOUSE