Tuesday, September 24, 2002
View summary | View survey details | View methodology

WASHINGTON — More Americans than ever before believe low-income families are having a harder time paying their utility bills and that Congress should spend more to protect the elderly and disabled from deadly temperature extremes.

A national survey conducted for the Campaign for Home Energy Assistance found that nearly eight out of 10 Americans — 78 percent — believe it is more difficult now than five years ago for low-income families to pay for their energy bills. The figure represents an historic high and compares with 67 percent in a similar study three years ago.

The survey found a record 89 percent support level for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), up five percentage points from 1999. It also found that 72 percent support expanded funding for the program — with 31 percent advocating a substantial increase and 40 percent supporting a moderate increase in the program.

“The messages we are hearing could not be any more clear,” said Rep. Jack Quinn (R-NY), co-chair of the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition. “Americans believe in lending a hand when help is needed most. They believe in LIHEAP, and they believe more should be done.”

A Senate committee has recommended spending $1.7 billion on LIHEAP in Fiscal Year 2003, plus $300 million in additional funding the president could release on an emergency basis. No action has been taken in the House, however, and President Bush has proposed a baseline budget of $1.4 billion — an 18 percent cut — plus $300 million in emergency money for the program. The president cited moderate temperatures and lower heating costs last winter as rationales for his recommendation.

“The Department of Energy has said that home heating costs will increase by an average of 17 percent for natural gas customers,” said David Parker, president of the American Gas Association, also a member of the Campaign. Other recently released forecasts suggest increases in excess of 40 percent for heating oil and 20 percent for propane.

“If Congress doesn’t provide sufficient LIHEAP funding to get us through these more difficult times, we will see more and more people being forced to choose between heating and eating,” Parker said.

The study found that 87 percent of the Americans surveyed believe energy prices are likely to increase, a chance remains for severe weather to threaten the lives of elderly and poor people, and that the federal government should continue to provide help through LIHEAP.

In addition, the survey found that:

• 81 percent believe that since two-thirds of the people receiving help from LIHEAP have family incomes less than $8,000 per year, the program is helping those who need it most.
• 88 percent said that during severe weather conditions, people living in poverty and low-income elderly should not have to choose between buying fuel to heat their homes and buying food for themselves and their families.
• 73 percent said it makes more sense for the federal government to pay the winter heating bills of low-income and elderly people than paying to care for or house these people in a hospital or shelter if they become ill or are forced from their homes.
  

Notwithstanding the appeal of additional federal tax cuts, seven out of 10 respondents said the lifesaving aspects of the LIHEAP program are so important that its funding should not be reduced in the name of an income tax cut. This compares with 65 percent holding the same view in 1999. The percentage supporting a reduction in LIHEAP in order to reduce taxes fell to 16 percent from 21 percent in 1999.

“A new question asked this year explored whether, in the sake of the September 11th tragedy, Americans would favor setting aside LIHEAP needs in favor of the defense budget,” said Earl de Berge, director of the Behavior Research Center of Phoenix, Arizona, the independent social research institute that conducted the survey.

“By an impressive 72 to 16 percent, Americans say ‘No,’ clearly underscoring their belief that both can be funded within the federal budget,” de Berge said.

The study, funded by the Campaign for Home Energy Assistance, was the third of its kind to survey the nation in depth for its views on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The earlier works were conducted in June 1998 and July-August 1999.

De Berge said the survey is based on a random sample of adult heads of households in all 50 states and a total of 800 interviews conducted between August 7 and August 20, 1999. He said the survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent at a 95 percent confidence interval.

The Campaign for Home Energy Assistance is a broad-based coalition of advocates for the poor, consumer advocates and utilities. Some of its members are the Alliance to Save Energy, American Gas Association, Edison Electric Institute, National Community Action Foundation, National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association, National Fuel Funds Network and The Salvation Army.

###

View summary | View survey details | View methodology