Iowa

Low-Income Energy Programs
Federal | Utility | Charitable

Federal

LIHEAP Contact
Public Inquiries: 515-242-5655
Website

LIHEAP Administering Agency Contacts
Local Administering Agency Contacts

Weatherization Assistance Program
Local Administering Agency Contacts
Website

LIHEAP FY 2024 Funding
$58,009,337
*including additional $928,654 from Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA), (Pub. L. 117-58)

LIHEAP Income Eligibility Level
200% Federal Poverty Level

LIHEAP FY 2024 Benefit
Heating: $80 minimum, $800 maximum
Crisis: $8,300 maximum

LIHEAP Households Served in FY 2023
Heating: 82,725
Year-round Crisis: 25,784
Weatherization; 1,022

LIHEAP Program Dates
Heating: October 1 - April 30
Crisis: Year-round
Weatherization: Year-round

Utility

Search By Utility Access Energy Cooperative Alliant Energy Atmos Energy Black Hills Energy Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative Consumers Energy East-Central Iowa REC Harlan Municipal Utilities Harrison County REC Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative Mid-American Energy Company Nishnabotna Valley REC Northwest REC Peoples Natural Gas/Energy One Prairie Energy Cooperative Southwest Iowa Rural Cooperative

Low-Income Energy Efficiency

Black Hills Energy Weatherization improvements which are covered by Black Hills Energy funding include:

• Insulation - floor, ceiling, and wall
• Band joist
• Water heating measures (pipe wrap, low-flow showerheads, and faucet aerators)
• Air infiltration measures

To apply for these programs or to find out if you qualify for low-income energy assistance contact your local Community Action Agency. MidAmerican Energy

• Funding for low-income weatherization is available to customers year-round. MidAmerican's energy efficiency department, with assistance from the Iowa Department of Human Rights, administers the program and distributes funds specifically earmarked for home improvements to low-income customer homes. Contact: local community action agency or the Iowa Bureau of Weatherization at 1-515-281-3861
• HomeCheck Free energy assessment for homes built before January 1, 2005 includes installation of water heater blanket, pipe insulation, low-flow faucet aerators and shower heads, and energy-efficient light bulbs. 1-800-545-0762 http://www.midamericanenergy.com/ee/ia_res_homecheck_onsite.aspx

Emergency Charitable Assistance

Please note these charitable funds are last resort emergency funds with limited resources and limited times of operation.

EMBRACE IOWA
The Des Moines Register's Embrace Iowa program takes place annually and provides a benefit for up to $500 for emergency relief for households in need. Applications will be considered for households at or below 150% of Federal HHS poverty guidelines. Applications are accepted from November 1 - January 15. All applications must be made at an Iowa Community Action Agency. Check for local phone listings at 515-283-4569.

Alliant Energy
Hometown Care Energy Fund
Recipients include older citizens on fixed incomes, families struggling with medical problems or a job loss, and eligible people still trying to pay off last winter's high heating bills. Funds are administered by regional community action programs. Alliant Energy adds a 25 percent matching gift for every customer contribution. 1-800-255-4268 www.alliantenergy.com/

Black Hills Energy 
Black Hills Cares
The company matched customer contributions dollar for dollar. Local assistance agencies determine customer eligibility and distribute funds. 1-800-303-0752 https://www.blackhillsenergy.com/your-neighborhood/community-programs/energy-assistance

Atmos Energy 
Sharing the Warmth
Customer donations combine with company donations to help people pay their gas bills in Lee county. All donations go directly to local people in need that meet criteria established by each individual program's guidelines. Contact Southeast Iowa Community Action, 319-524-6383.

Access Energy Cooperative
ReCare
Customer donations fund an energy assistance program to assist the elderly and other low income consumers pay their winter heating bills.
319-385-1577 or 1-866-242-4232

Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative 
RECare
Customer donations provide local community action agencies with funds to help low-income families pay for winter heating bills and weatherize their homes.
641-932-7126

Consumers Energy
Operation Round-Up®
Members donate small change each month to cooperative members needing economic assistance with their energy bills. Annually Consumers Energy distributes the funds to local community action agencies to assist low-income families with winter heating bills and winterization of their homes.
800-696-6552

East-Central Iowa REC
RECare
Customer donations provide local community action agencies with funds to help low-income families pay for winter heating bills and weatherize their homes.
319-443-4343 or 1-877-850-4343

Harlan Municipal Utilities
Project Share
The Project Share program is a voluntary contribution program. A committee consisting of representatives from HMU, Shelby County Human Services and local Community Action Agency (West Central Development Corp) determines the distribution of funds received. All traditional types of households are eligible for assistance.
712-755-5182
www.harlannet.com/CustomerService.htm#Project Share

Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative
712-362-7870 or 1-800-225-4532
Operation Round-Up®
Member donations provide funds to organizations and individuals in need and also for family emergency disasters. Fill out an application online for an individual or family or print an online application to mail.
www.ilec.coop/aspx/General/ClientPage.aspx?PageID=195&n=550&b=1

Mid-American Energy Company
I CARE
I CARE assists those who are unemployed, living on fixed or low incomes or experiencing a family crisis by helping pay their heating bills or making their homes more energy efficient. To qualify, customers must also meet their state's LIHEAP guidelines.
1-888-427-5632
http://www.midamericanenergy.com/service9.aspx

Nishnabotna Valley Rural Electric Cooperative
Operation Round Up
Customer donations provide funds for non-profit organizations, individuals in need and family emergency disasters. Application forms are available at the REC office and should be received for review no later than the 15th of the month at the end of each quarter.
712-755-2166 or 1-800-234-5122

Northwest Rural Electric Cooperative
1-800-383-0476

• Operation Round Up Customer-donated funds may be used to help non-profit charitable organizations, individual family disasters, worthwhile community causes and school projects. Applications are available at Northwest's three offices. www.nwrec.com/aspx/general/
• RECare Members provide funds that are distributed by local community action agencies to help pay winter heating bills and to assist in weatherization of low-income consumers' homes.

Peoples Natural Gas/Energy One
Project H.E.L.P.E.R.
1-800-303-0752

Prairie Energy Cooperative
RECare
Members provide funds that are distributed by local community action agencies to help pay winter heating bills and to assist in weatherization of low-income consumers' homes.
641-923-2654 or 1-888-225-8707

Southwest Iowa Rural Cooperative
Operation Round-Up®
Individuals or organizations requesting Operation Round-Up® donations do not have to be members of Southwest Iowa REC, however they do need to be a resident located in one of these 11 counties, including Adair, Adams, Cass, Decatur, Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Taylor and Union. Applications can be requested from any of three locations:

• Corning
  • 1801 Grove Avenue
  • 641-322-3165, 888-591-1261
• Mt. Ayr
  • 1502 W. South Street
  • 641-464-2244, 888-220-4869
• Stanton
  • 415 Broad Avenue
  • 712-829-2211, 888-591-1260

Applications may also be found on the website.
www.swiarec.coop/content/operation-round-up%C2%AE-0