Heffley to Propose Legislation to Expand Emergency Utility Assistance

October 6, 2026

HARRISBURG - Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) announced he plans to introduce legislation that would supplement existing Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) payments and provide utility assistance payments for households that do not currently meet the income requirements for LIHEAP but still need assistance covering the growing cost of utilities.

"LIHEAP is a vital resource for low-income households across the Commonwealth and uses federal funds to provide this assistance," Heffley said. "My legislation would provide a dollar-for-dollar state match on LIHEAP awards during the 2026-27 LIHEAP season beginning in December. This would double each household's benefit amount during the cold winter months when they need it most."

Heffley's legislation would also expand who receives utility assistance by providing a one-time emergency payment to households with incomes between 150% and 250% of Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (FPIG). As it is now, the LIHEAP program only applies to households at or below 150% of FPIG. This expansion would allow additional families to receive much needed benefits.

"As Republican chair of the House Human Service Committee, I hear from Pennsylvanians who are struggling with the rising costs of basic necessities, including their utility bills," Heffley said. "We need to make sure our energy assistance programs are reaching families who truly need them. This legislation would strengthen LIHEAP for those who already qualify while also providing a lifeline to working families who may earn too much to qualify for traditional assistance but are still struggling to pay their bills."

To fund these payments, Heffley is proposing a $500 million transfer from the Rainy Day Fund.

Heffley, a fiscal conservative who has been critical of Gov. Josh Shapiro's budget plans to drain the fund to cover reoccurring expenses, said the fund is intended to support the Commonwealth in case of emergencies.

"Families across the Commonwealth are already struggling with increasing utility costs and will continue to do so as temperatures plummet," Heffley said. "This shouldn't be a partisan issue. This should be a time when we take action to get emergency relief to seniors and working class families who, through no fault of their own, are struggling to keep up with utility costs. These reserve funds are put in place for this exact reason."

Representative Doyle Heffley
122nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andrew Forgotch
717.772.9905
[email protected]
RepHeffley.com / Facebook.com/RepHeffley