North Carolina will receive a record $183.3 million thanks to President Biden and Democrats’ American Rescue Plan

North Carolinians across the state this winter are paying more for their heat than in past years due to the pandemic. Thanks to the passage of the American Rescue Plan, the Biden-Harris administration announced on Friday that North Carolina will receive a historic $183.3 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help off-set high heating bills. 

While North Carolina receives an appropriation of $96.3 million for home energy assistance each year, the additional $87 million in funding provided by the American Rescue Plan is critical to helping North Carolina families struggling with the costs of home heating this winter. Across the country, the American Rescue Plan more than doubled LIHEAP funding this winter. The historic COVID-19 relief bill also provided additional historic resources for North Carolinians through the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program and State & Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. 

The Biden-Harris administration has taken additional steps to ensure that resources are distributed swiftly and equitably this winter: 

• In November, the White House called on states, localities, and tribes to plan early to distribute American Rescue Plan funds to address home energy costs this winter.

• The White House called on utility companies to prevent devastating utility shut-offs and help expedite the delivery of unprecedented federal aid. So far, 14 major utility companies and a delivered fuel trade association have responded.

• To maximize the impact of home heating assistance, the White House called for states, localities, and tribes to coordinate across programs including LIHEAP and ERA.

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