Government releases LIHEAP funds to help pay utility bills

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Arkansas has been hit with several bouts of cold weather this winter, and just in time, the federal government has released LIHEAP funds to help low-income, elderly and disabled pay their energy bills. The state recently received more than $3.3 million in sequestered and additional funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. That brings the total for the 2014 fiscal year to more than $27.5 million.

"Every day our low-income customers struggle to make ends meet," said Tom Kennedy, Entergy Arkansas vice president, public affairs. "When inclement weather hits and affects utility bills, it creates an added strain on their budgets, so we're working hard to get the word out that help is available," said Kennedy.

LIHEAP funds are administered through the Arkansas Department of Human Services, which provides funding to local community action agencies.

For information on how to apply for LIHEAP funds, go to: http://humanservices.arkansas.gov/dco/dco_docs/OFFICE%20OF%20COMMUNITY%20SERVICES%20INFO%20SHEET.pdf

Entergy Arkansas employees, shareholders and customers also contribute to The Power to Care, a special fund that provides emergency utility assistance for elderly and disabled customers. The Arkansas Energy Network is the program administrator for this fund.  Additional information on applying for assistance can be found on their web site at http://www.arenergynet.org/.  

Entergy Arkansas provides electricity to approximately 700,000 customers in 63 counties. Entergy Arkansas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including more than 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation's leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and approximately 14,000 employees.

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