South Dakota Receives More Than $847,000 in Emergency Energy Assistance Funding

PIERRE, S.D. – To help with winter heating costs, South Dakota will receive an additional $847,389 in federal funding to provide energy assistance to low-income households, according to South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds.

The funding is part of an additional $100 million in federal emergency funds being awarded to states from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. In South Dakota, Social Services’ Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) will receive $696,723, while the remaining money will go to the state’s Indian tribes to provide energy assistance.

The governor said the emergency funding will help offset the state’s cost of providing energy assistance to additional households this heating season. To date, LIEAP has approved 13,840 households to receive energy assistance this heating season, and 2,138 applications are pending. 

“We want to make sure that we provide needed assistance to thousands of South Dakotans who otherwise might not be able to pay their heating bills this winter,” Gov. Rounds said. “This assistance will help low-income children, families and seniors stay safe and warm.”

South Dakota’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program helps pay low-income families’ heating costs by making direct payments to their energy suppliers. To be eligible for assistance, the governor said a household’s total gross income may not exceed maximum income guidelines and the household must be responsible for paying its home heating costs. 

LIEAP will continue to take applications for energy assistance this heating season until March 15, 2005.

For more information or to apply for energy assistance, people can contact South Dakota LIEAP at 1-800-233-8503. Applications are also available at local Social Services offices and Community Assistance Programs or online at www.state.sd.us/social/energy.