How Are You Going To Pay For Your Winter Heating Bills?

Posted: August 23, 2016

If you received Heating Assistance from the State of Alaska this past winter, you need to plan ahead now for how you are going to pay for your heat this coming winter.

State of Alaska budget cuts have resulted in the elimination of the Alaska Affordable Heating Program, which assisted households with income between 151% and 225% of  poverty. If you fall into this income category, you will not qualify for assistance this winter. If your income is less than 150% of the federal poverty income guidelines, you may receive a benefit, but it will be about 30% lower than what you have received the past several years.

What Can You Do To Prepare?

• Create your own “energy fund.” Start to put a little money aside each week/month to cover your heating bills when winter comes.
• Sign up for weatherization or seal up drafts in your home yourself. Anywhere you can feel cold air coming in, the heat can also escape. For more information on free and low-cost weatherization, go to https://www.ahfc.us/efficiency/energy-programs/weatherization/ or call Alaska Housing Finance Corporation at 1-800-478-2432.
• Look for other resources. Call 211, the statewide agency hotline, to see if there are other programs in your community that can help you.

Plan ahead now to keep warm this winter.

If you have questions, please call the State of Alaska’s Heating Assistance Program at 1-800-470-3058.