Second National Survey Finds Widespread Support
for Emergency Energy Assistance Program;
Congressional Funding in Doubt

Thursday, September 23, 1999
View survey | View methodology

WASHINGTON — The overwhelming majority of Americans responding to a national survey believe Congress should continue to fund a federal program that helps poor families and the elderly pay their utility bills during cold- or hot-weather emergencies.

Research conducted for the Campaign for Home Energy  Assistance found that by a 10-to-1 margin, Americans support the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Eighty-four percent said they favor the program, while only 8 percent were opposed.

"Americans clearly agree that LIHEAP works and ought to be a priority, even during a period of budget-cutting," said James C. Benfield, executive director of the Campaign. "What makes the message more compelling is the expected increase in natural gas and heating oil this winter as well as the potential for colder temperatures this winter than in 1997 or 1998."

Lawmakers have until September 30 to set spending levels for LIHEAP and other programs under the Fiscal Year 2000 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education. Last year, LIHEAP was funded for $1.1 billion, down from $1.3 billion as recently as 1995. The goal of the Campaign is restore funding to $1.3 billion.
"Even at a time when the program is in jeopardy, 68 percent of all Americans responding to the survey believe Congress should increase funding for LIHEAP," Benfield noted. "Equally significant, 65 percent said funding for the program should not be reduced in the name of an income tax cut."

The study found that, by a margin of 83 percent to 9 percent, Americans believe that energy prices are likely to increase, a chance remains for severe weather to threaten the lives of elderly and poor people, and the federal government therefore should continue to provide assistance under LIHEAP.

"There’s no question that weather continues to put the disadvantaged, particularly the elderly, at risk," Benfield said. "People die from temperature extremes. A mid-summer heat wave this year claimed the lives of more than 300 Americans. For the second year in a row, President Clinton has had to order the release of emergency funds through LIHEAP to help the poor and elderly survive the heat."

Consistent with the findings of a similar study conducted last year, two-thirds of those surveyed (67 percent) said it is more difficult today for the poor and elderly to pay their home energy bills than it was five years ago. Sixty-two percent said the cost of energy to heat or cool their own homes is higher.

Assessing the effectiveness of the energy-assistance programs, 65 percent said LIHEAP is a helpful tool for people making the difficult transition from welfare to work. Forty-seven percent said the program is very helpful, and 38 found it at least somewhat helpful.
Benfield noted that Americans believe so strongly in the value of the energy assistance program that their support could be measured at the ballot box.

Among those surveyed, 57 percent said they would be less likely to vote to return their own senators or representatives to Congress if they voted against LIHEAP.

"As a rule, single-issue voter questions like this do not produce such lopsided results," said Earl de Berge, director of the Behavior Research Center of Phoenix, Arizona, the independent social research institute that conducted the survey.

"The 57 percent reading is indicative of strong voter intensity on the issue and a clear flag that voters made aware of congressional voting on LIHEAP funding could be strongly influenced," said de Berge.

The study also examined the methods Americans used to heat and cool their homes. It found that half of Americans use natural gas to heat their homes, while a third rely on electrical energy, and 11 percent use fuel oil. Sixty-four percent also use supplemental methods — mostly space heaters — and fireplaces are used by a quarter of the homes for supplemental heating.

As was the case in last year’s study, fully 9 percent admit that they use kitchen appliances such as range tops and ovens to warm themselves during cold weather.

The study, funded by the Campaign for Home Energy  Assistance, was the second of its kind to survey the nation in depth for its views on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The earlier work was conducted in June 1998.

De Berge said the survey is based on a random sample of adult heads of households in all 50 states and a total of 803 interviews conducted between July 29 and August 3, 1999. He said the survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent at a 95 percent confidence interval.

"Support for LIHEAP was consistent from one year to the next -- and consistent across the United States," de Berge said.

The Campaign for Home Energy  Assistance is a broad-based coalition of advocates for the poor, consumer advocates and utilities. Among its members are the Alliance to Save Energy, American Gas Association, Coalition to Keep Michigan Warm, Edison Electric Institute, National Fuel Funds Network and The Salvation Army.

View survey here. View methodology here.

For current data on energy prices, go to the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration web site at www.eia.doe.gov.