The deadline for low-income residents in Iowa to get help paying for their utility bill has passed.
But that doesn’t mean they will be left out in the cold.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program, better known as LIHEAP, provides qualifying Alliant Energy customers with help affording their power bill during the winter, from Nov. 1 through April 1.
Although April 1 has come and gone, Alliant Energy is reminding southeast Iowa customers that further assistance is available.
Veronica Stober, an energy assistance manager at Alliant, said a customer can qualify for that LIHEAP program if they make less than 200% of the 2022 federal poverty guidelines.
She said single-person households earning $27,000 or less a year or four-person households making $55,500 each year or less are eligible.
“What we're urging all of our customers to do is those who may be struggling with their bill or past due is if they haven't already applied for the low-income home energy assistance program to get some assistance with their bill,” Stober said.
“Applications are being taken in Iowa until April 30. So, if they qualify, they can get some assistance to help them take care of that past due balance.”
Last year, Alliant Energy contributed $2 million to the program. LIHEAP distributed more than $11 million to 20,441 Iowans. Each received an average or $555 to help them afford their utility bills.
“We know that it sometimes can be difficult or stressful to discuss your financial circumstances with someone,” Stober said. “You can do that quickly and confidentially right online by setting up a payment arrangement, and that's the same payment arrangement they would get if they would spoke to somebody here at our company.”
To set up a payment or to find out more about available energy assistance at Alliant Energy, go online to alliantenergy.com/energyassistance.
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