Heat Advisory — LIHEAP and Other Energy Assistance You Can Claim to Pay for Electricity

With the recent heat advisories in several regions of the United States, with heat waves crushing us like ripe tomatoes, American households are preparing to face the onslaught of electricity bills that come with more zeros than they would like. Faced with this, middle- and low-income households are seeking financial assistance, and sometimes finding information on stimulus payment programs or this type of assistance can be confusing.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is the primary source of federal aid, but other state and federal programs can ease the financial burden during heat waves. We’ve gathered details the options available in June 2025 and for the remainder of the year, including the states where they are available, the amounts that can be claimed, and how to apply online.

Heat advisories – LIHEAP and other financial assistance programs

We spoke with Maria Reyes, a grandmother in Phoenix who relies on LIHEAP to keep her grandkids safe during Arizona’s brutal summers. “Last July, my old AC unit died during a 110-degree week,” she shared. “LIHEAP covered a new window unit within 48 hours. Without it? We’d have ended up in the ER.” Stories like Maria’s underscore why cooling assistance isn’t a luxury—it’s survival infrastructure.

Unlike winter heating aid, summer cooling support operates on a dizzying state-by-state calendar. Some states like California and Texas offer year-round protection, recognizing that extreme heat isn’t seasonal. Others open narrow windows of opportunity—some as brief as 45 days. Crucially, applying early matters: in Oklahoma last August, funds ran dry in just 11 days.

Here’s where cooling assistance stands across the U.S. this summer

• Year-Round Safety Nets:
  California • District of Columbia • Nevada • Oregon • Tennessee • Texas
  (No deadlines, but funds can exhaust quickly)

• Early Bird States (March–April):
  Hawaii (March 1) • Arizona (April 1, varies by county) • Florida (April 1) • Georgia (April 1)

• Peak Summer Warriors (May–July):
  Alabama (May 1) • Delaware (May 1) • Kentucky (May 1) • Mississippi (May 1) • South Carolina (May 1) •
  Arkansas (July 7) • Ohio (July 1) • Oklahoma (July 15, high depletion risk)

• Flexible/Contingent Programs:
  Illinois (no dedicated cooling program—rolls into general energy aid) •
  North Dakota (activates during extreme heat) • Louisiana (redirects unused heating funds)

While LIHEAP prevents thousands of heat-related deaths annually, gaps persist. Nebraska’s program only runs if leftover funds exist—a gamble for families in Omaha’s heat islands. In Virginia, the August 15 cutoff ignores that 90% of the state’s heatwaves historically hit after that date. “We see ER visits spike when programs sunset too soon,” notes Dr. Evan Singh, an ER physician in Richmond.

State-by-State available LIHEAP and other energy assistance program

Year-Round Help Available (Apply anytime, but funds can run out):

• California

• Washington D.C.

• Nevada

• Oregon

• Tennessee

• Texas

Early Start States (Programs open March-April):

• Hawaii: March 1 – September 30
  (Special application window June 1-30 for heating/cooling combo)

• Arizona: April 1 – October 31
  (Some counties extend to November 30 – check your local office)

• Florida: April 1 – September 30

• Georgia: April 1 – July 31
  (Program year runs October 2024-September 2025)

• Louisiana: April 1 – September 30
  (Uses leftover heating funds through June 30)

Peak Summer Help (May-July start dates):

• Alabama: May 1 – September 30

• Delaware: May 1 – August 31
  (Apply April 1 – August 15)

• Kentucky: May 1 – September 30
  (Only if extra money available)

• Mississippi: May 1 – September 30

• Missouri: June 1 – September 30

• Nebraska: June 1 – August 31
  (Funds permitting)

• New York: April 15 – August 29
  (Until money runs out)

• Ohio: July 1 – September 30

• Oklahoma: July 15 – September 30
  (First come, first served)

• South Carolina: May 1 – September 30
  (Possible extra benefits if funds remain)

• Virginia: June 15 – August 15
  (Application dates)

Special Cases:

• Arkansas: July 7 – August 29
  (Short but often has available funds)

• Illinois: No separate cooling program
  (General energy help until August 15 or until funds gone)

• North Dakota: No set dates
  (Activates during extreme heat)

• Puerto Rico: March 3 – September 30

• Utah: Year-round
  (Special groups can apply starting October 1, everyone else November 1)

• West Virginia: December 1 – September 30
  (Cooling help as needed)

Claim LIHEAP right now and stay safe

1. Don’t wait for a heat emergency—apply the day your state’s window opens.

2. Documents matter: Have utility bills, ID, and income proofs ready (income caps are typically 150% of poverty level).

3. Crisis assistance is separate: If you receive a shutoff notice or your AC fails, most states expedite aid within 48 hours.

As climate change stretches heat seasons longer and deadlier, LIHEAP’s role becomes more critical, even to save lives. “This isn’t about comfort,” says activist Luis Mendez, whose coalition helped expand New York’s cooling aid period. “It’s about whether a 78-year-old on fixed income lives through September.”

Go to your web browser and type “liheap in my area”, to find the nearest agency to apply for the energy financial assistance.