The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps eligible households in Lassen County with home energy bills by making a one-time payment to a utility company on their behalf, is proposed for elimination in the President’s FY26 budget proposal.
This means that the largest source of energy payment assistance for low-income households in the United States will disappear. In California in 2024, LIHEAP assisted 187,263 households with $145 million in payment assistance benefits.
“The current budget bill being debated in Congress has $0 allocated for LIHEAP in 2026,” explains Lassen Economic Development Corporation representative Melissa Wynn.
“LEDC is 100% LIHEAP funded. If LIHEAP is eliminated we will be forced to close our doors after 40+ years of assisting Lassen County’s low-income and most vulnerable populations with utility bills and weatherization services.”
46% of all households benefited were assisted with a disconnection notice or were already disconnected and 70% of all households assisted had at least one vulnerable household member: elderly, a child, or a person living with a disability.
The elimination of LIHEAP is rapidly moving towards a vote in Congress and a group called Save LIHEAP California is urging residents to contact your elected representatives to save LIHEAP in 2026. Click here for more information and to fill out an online contact form.
