Thousands of Iowans are seeking assistance to pay heat bills as natural gas prices soar, records obtained by Axios show.
Why it matters: Limited natural gas inventories and production, along with an increase in demand globally, are driving prices up, MidAmerican Energy stated.
- A shutoff moratorium runs until April but, after that, Iowa families unable to pay their bills could get cut off.
State of play: Nearly 62,000 Iowans applied to Iowa's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) between October 2020 and mid-January of 2021, according to state data requested by Axios.
- That's up by more than 25% from the same period the previous year.
By the numbers: The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has allocated around $133 million to LIHEAP for the federal fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.
- That's almost 145% more than the previous year due to pandemic-related assistance.
How to help: IMPACT helps metro residents apply for LIHEAP and other utility assistance programs.
- Meanwhile, donations to MidAmerican Energy's I CARE program are matched 25%.
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