DTE Energy Joins Call for Congress to Increase Home Heating Assistance

DETROIT, March 23 /PRNewswire/ --

• Despite growing need, LIHEAP budget identified for cut
• Applications for help up 25 percent in Michigan
• Community assistance agencies join call for help

DTE Energy today joined a national call for Congress to increase funding to the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), as the Michigan economy has left an unprecedented number of customers looking for assistance to pay their energy bills.

"We have seen thousands of our customers who have never needed help before seeking assistance," said Fred Shell, DTE Energy vice president, Corporate and Governmental Affairs. "This funding is desperately needed to help people manage their utility bills without resorting to extreme measures to keep the lights and heat turned on."

DTE Energy joined the National Fuel Funds Network (NFFN), the Michigan Public Service Commission, The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW), The Salvation Army and the Michigan Department of Human Services to urge Congress to immediately approve $2.5 billion in additional funding for LIHEAP in the current fiscal year.

Sue Montgomery Corey, NFFN Board chair, said at a news conference at DTE Energy's Detroit Recovery Project office, that the number of households served by LIHEAP is projected to reach 8.8 million this year, up almost 13 percent from last year's record of 7.7 million. A recent survey showed that applications are up by more than 25 percent in Michigan.

"This increase in requests for assistance is putting unprecedented strain on already limited LIHEAP funds," Montgomery Corey said. "Historically, LIHEAP has served fewer than one out of five eligible households, but despite increased funding, millions of qualified Americans are still going without federal energy assistance."

The NFFN, a national heating assistance advocate, also asked Congress to approve $7.8 billion in funding for fiscal 2011 on reports that the Obama Administration wants to reduce LIHEAP funding to $3.3 billion.

The more than 300 members of the NFFN – organizations similar to THAW – provided more than $100 million in assistance grants to hundreds of thousands of households to make energy payments. These grants come nowhere near bridging the gap between available federal assistance and the unmet needs of millions of Americans.

"Securing adequate energy assistance to meet this tragically growing need and getting that assistance to families is the top priority of this committed coalition of working partners," added DTE Energy's Shell. We ask that the entire community join with us in calling for the funds needed to do the job."

SOURCE DTE Energy