{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Citizens Utility Board","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org","title":"Fight for LIHEAP and Energy Star | Citizens Utility Board","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"cR4pIArGoc\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/09\/09\/fight-for-liheap-and-energy-star\/\">Fight for LIHEAP and Energy Star<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/09\/09\/fight-for-liheap-and-energy-star\/embed\/#?secret=cR4pIArGoc\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Fight for LIHEAP and Energy Star&#8221; &#8212; Citizens Utility Board\" data-secret=\"cR4pIArGoc\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","description":"It\u2019s frustrating that Washington is killing helpful\u00a0solar and energy efficiency tax credits\u00a0at the end of the year\u2013but we still have a chance to save two energy programs that have been threatened:\u00a0The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Energy Star.\u00a0 Washington decides budget appropriations for the next fiscal year, beginning Oct. 1. Here\u2019s an update on both programs: LIHEAP What\u2019s the update? Washington\u2019s original proposal was to zero out funding for this program\u2013but in a promising development, lawmakers in the House and Senate have moved to fund\u00a0LIHEAP. Just this month, a House Appropriations Subcommittee proposed $4.035 billion in funding for\u00a0LIHEAP&#8211;a $10 million increase. On the Senate side, the Appropriations Committee has recommended $4.045 billion. Why do we care? LIHEAP\u00a0helps more than 5 million homes (seniors, people with disabilities, families) in Illinois and across the country stay safely connected to their utilities (318,467 Illinois households received benefits in the 2025 program year). When people can afford their utility bills, it helps keep down costs for everyone. Note:\u00a0Illinois&#8217;\u00a0LIHEAP\u00a0program will begin Oct. 1, as planned, so qualifying customers can apply. Thankfully,\u00a0LIHEAP\u00a0gets a significant amount of funding from the state, which will carry the program in the short term. But it&#8217;s vital that federal\u00a0LIHEAP\u00a0funding comes through so that in the long-term Illinois&#8217; program can help as many customers as possible. Energy Star\u00a0 What\u2019s the update? This program also was on the chopping block. But, as we\u2019ve reported before,\u00a0lawmakers in the House and Senate have moved to protect the program.\u00a0This comes after some 1,000 companies, nonprofits and public agencies signed their name to a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) director to maintain Energy Star. Why do we care? Created by President George H.W. Bush to help consumers identify efficient appliances, this appliance-labelling program says it has helped consumers save $500 billion in energy costs. The head of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy said Energy Star saves about $40 billion a year on a budget that is less than $40 million&#8211;and eliminating it would be \u201cmillion-wise and billion foolish.\u201d Important:\u00a0The fights to protect\u00a0LIHEAP\u00a0and Energy Star are far from over! Appropriations legislation faces floor votes, reconciliation into one bill and then it has to be signed by the White House. Also, Congress might have to pass a continuing resolution (CR), which is short-term legislation to fund the government past September 30. If the CR is passed, advocates say we would then have to push for the speedy release of\u00a0LIHEAP\u00a0funding to help customers across the country stay connected to heat this winter.\u00a0These are urgent battles!","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SaveProgramsThatCutUtilityBills.jpg","thumbnail_width":960,"thumbnail_height":540}