Applications for annual federally funded energy credit assistance for low-income residents, who are not in crisis but require help to pay their heating and cooling bills, will be accepted beginning Thursday, June 1, via mail or in-person.
Maui Economic Opportunity helps administer the popular once-a-year Hawaii Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in Maui County. LIHEAP provides a credit on utility accounts based on income and number of people in the household with the state determining the total number to receive assistance. The federal funds pass through the state.
MEO Community Services processes applications, sends them to the state, which then distributes a credit line to applicants through Hawaiian Electric or Hawaii Gas. Some clients can make their credit last for longer than six months.
The deadline to apply for the LIHEAP credit program is 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 30. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.
This energy credit is one of two LIHEAP programs. The other program, Energy Crisis Intervention, continues to operate, generally giving out 15 allotments a month – though for June all households that have received a disconnection or past-due notice can receive assistance.
A household can only get assistance once a year from either program. Applicants must submit their most recent electric bill, identification for all adult household members and Social Security numbers for all household members older than 1 year old and proof of citizenship, gross annual income and residence.
Applications for the program are available online at meoinc.org or may be picked up at the MEO office at 99 Mahalani St., Wailuku, HI, 96793 in Wailuku. Completed forms must be mailed or dropped off at the MEO Wailuku office; emailed forms will not be accepted.
Funding for LIHEAP is provided by the federal Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance, and managed by the State of Hawaii Office of Community Services.
For more information, call 249-2970.
