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Extreme Heat and Need for Air Conditioning

The article discusses how extreme and volatile weather has turned air conditioning into a crucial utility for many consumers across different regions of the U.S. For example, parts of typically mild San Diego soared to nearly 110 degrees last weekend, breaking decades-old records.

• Rising temperatures due to climate change have increased the need for home cooling across the country.
• The average cost of cooling an American home from June to September is set to hit $719 this year, nearly 8% higher than last year and the highest level in a decade.

Challenges for Low-Income Households

Many low-income households are struggling to afford the high costs of air conditioning and utility bills, especially during heat waves. The article highlights the case of Cathy McCorkle, a retired 65-year-old woman in North Carolina, who cannot afford the $12,000 expense to replace her broken central air conditioning unit.

• McCorkle is among 2,000 state residents awaiting approval for financial assistance through a community advocacy program.
• With a fixed monthly income of $2,200, she is worried about how she will stay cool in the upcoming winter months without a working heating system.

Cuts to Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Federal budget cuts have reduced funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), making it more difficult for aid groups to provide assistance to those in need.

• LIHEAP funding was slashed to $4.1 billion this fiscal year from $6.1 billion in the last one.
• Nearly 1 million fewer households have received help with heating and cooling needs due to the funding cuts.
• Aid groups are calling for the restoration of the more than $2 billion CARES Act-era supplement and a $1 billion boost for emergency assistance.

Impact on State Energy Assistance Programs

The article highlights how the funding cuts have affected energy assistance programs in various states, such as Washington and North Carolina.

Washington State

• The state's energy assistance program closed its doors on July 31, marking the first time in four years it did not run year-round.
• Despite receiving calls during a recent heat wave, the program could not offer help due to lack of LIHEAP funding.
• Creative budgeting strategies, such as renaming subsidies and taking advantage of pandemic-era funding, helped the program assist 91,000 households this fiscal year, close to the previous year's 100,000.

North Carolina

• In North Carolina, agencies like Blue Ridge Community Action have turned to other options like the weatherization program included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
• However, the weatherization program is also on pause as the state readjusts county funding allotments based on heating needs rather than the number of eligible residents.
• Around 560 households are on the waitlist for home weatherization assistance in Blue Ridge Community Action's service area.

Calls for Reforms and Additional Assistance

The article highlights various calls for reforms and additional assistance to help low-income households cope with rising utility costs and extreme heat.

• LIHEAP administrators are calling for the program to be governed like a safety-net program, such as Medicaid or SNAP, to ensure stable funding and assistance for all eligible households.
• Policymakers and utility regulators are urged to implement seasonal shut-off protections and expand access to income-based utility rates.
• The Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits for home-energy upgrades, but the rollout has been slow, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.

Political Challenges and Uncertainty

The article also discusses the political challenges and uncertainty surrounding funding for energy assistance programs like LIHEAP.

• Resumed funding for LIHEAP is dependent on an appropriations bill used to fund the government, which has a September 30 deadline.
• House Republicans have previously attempted to significantly cut LIHEAP funding as part of their efforts to "end wasteful spending."
• Neither Vice President Kamala Harris nor former President Donald Trump has mentioned direct utility or weatherization aid in their campaigns for the White House.