D.C. Residents Could Be Left in the Dark Without An Essential Federal Utility Assistance Program

D.C. Residents Could Be Left in the Dark Without An Essential Federal Utility Assistance Program

Eating or keeping the lights on. That is the choice Ward 8 resident Don Gardner was forced to make.  Gardner is praying that his application for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, will be approved before his power is turned off. He is behind on his bill because he was laid off from his job as a contractor for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in January.  “Over the last three or four months, I have…

Detroiters face DTE shutoffs as funding for utility assistance runs out, rates go up

In Detroit, high utility bills and scarce assistance have left residents like Tanisha Humphrey grappling with disconnections. DTE Energy reports shutting off 211,647 customers for nonpayment last year.