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Massachusetts Gets $20 Million

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney signed a bill on November 22 allocating $20 million to the state’s LIHEAP, allowing the program to boost its maximum benefit level. The measure also permanently raised eligibility levels for the low-income natural gas and electric bill discounts provided by most Massachusetts utilities from 175 percent of federal poverty guidelines to 200 percent, the same as the state’s LIHEAP.

The one-time $20 million in relief was part of a broad legislative package designed to address the short-term spike in heating costs stemming from Hurricane Katrina and the long-term need to reduce the state's energy consumption.

The law also allows low- and moderate-income residents to take a personal income tax deduction of up to $800 for their winter heating costs, as well as a one-time $600 tax credit for the purchase of energy-efficient products such as new windows, programmable thermostats, insulation, weather stripping, and efficient furnaces and boilers.

Advocates who fought for the energy assistance funding said it may not be enough because heating bills could easily be $2,000 and over this year and the maximum LIHEAP benefit is usually around $840.

Source: Boston Globe

Page Last Updated: January 27, 2010