On Monday, state legislators and Sen. Richard Blumenthal raised concerns about how low-income households will pay for heat this coming winter.

Their comments came as state Social Services Commissioner Deidre Gifford explained to lawmakers that funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a federal program that assists low-income households with home energy bills, is down this year because there are no more pandemic relief dollars.

The state legislature’s Appropriations, Energy & Technology and Human Services Committees held a public hearing then a joint meeting on the issue Tuesday.

Asked by state Rep. Holly Cheeseman, R-East Lyme, how the LIHEAP payments could return to its 2019 level, when the average price of fuel was $3.30 as opposed to more than $5 today, Gifford said the state is hamstrung by the federal block grant used for the energy assistance program.

“It does not expand based on the number of individuals eligible nor the particular need of eligible individuals like an entitlement program does,” Gifford said of the block grant. “The increase in enrollment we’ve seen means more people are getting assistance than received assistance in 2019. We had 81,000 in 2019, we anticipate 96,000 in the upcoming federal fiscal year. 15,000 more households will receive a benefit … the basic benefit is about $100 less.”

The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, which is funded by the federal LIHEAP block grant, is meant to lower energy costs for state households who make at or below 60% of the state median income of $76,465 for a family of four. It received $82 million in 2019 — before the pandemic — and between $88 and $140 million in successive years until 2022. Lawmakers approved a $79-million plan for 2023 on Monday.

Republican state legislators pushed for an amendment that they said would restore “funding slashed by Washington that state leaders have thus far refused to replenish,” according to a joint statement from Republican Senate and House leaders Sen. Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, and Rep. Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford.

“The Republican proposal would supplement the $79.2 million in expected federal LIHEAP funds to increase total home energy assistance to $191.5 million,” the statement reads.

Republicans were ultimately stifled, as Democrats blocked a vote on the proposed amendment on procedural grounds. Osten noted that what Republicans were asking for has to be approved by the entire General Assembly, which is not in session.

"Democratic lawmakers … refused to even hold a vote on delivering the help people desperately need,” Kelly and Candelora said in the joint statement. “This was a slap in the face to the democratic process that sought to suppress debate and silence the voices of the people we represent."

In a joint statement from Osten and state Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex, on the passage of the LIHEAP plan, they said it will pay the heating bills for almost 97,000 households, “paid for by President Biden and Congressional Democrats thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act that Democrats voted for two years ago, despite unanimous opposition from Congressional Republicans.”

"The Republican amendment offered today was both illegal and moot, since no changes to the LIHEAP funding amounts and qualifications can be made at this point,” the senators added in their statement. “Also, contrary to Republican assertions, it would take a special session of the full legislature to allocate any such unassigned ARPA funds under state control, if and when that decision was made.”

Lawmakers ultimately voted 43-1 in favor of the $79 million allocation.

At the same time as the public hearing and meeting, Blumenthal, a Democrat, held a news conference in Hartford, where he called on Congress to free up more federal money for the LIHEAP program. U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, and Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, along with Blumenthal, penned a letter to Congress earlier this month with the same request. Blumenthal said the additional $200 million proposed for the LIHEAP program in the federal budget is not enough.

“An emergency supplemental is necessary to meet the skyrocketing cost of fuel,” Blumenthal said. “This program … is a lifeline that is shattering because of inadequate investment.”

The Thames Valley Council for Community Action announced through a news release last week that it can assist customers with overdue energy bills.

“The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) will allow shut-offs beginning May 2, 2023. Customers participating in a payment plan program may be protected from service disconnections,” the release reads. “TVCCA has funding to assist customers with past due utility payments and can work with community members to establish a payment plan or qualify for the New Start Program with Eversource.”

Those seeking assistance with utility bills can call 860-444-0006 for the New London area and 860-889-1365 for the Norwich area. Clients seeking assistance with home heating bills in New London County can call 860-425-6681.

s.spinella@theday.com