Oregon Low-Income Programs Get $10 Million

On November 22, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and Attorney General Hardy Myers announced nearly $12 million in grants for weatherization and energy assistance for low-income Oregonians, and launched a new website to help Oregonians access information about energy assistance programs as well as energy saving, and cost-saving strategies.

The grants secured by the Attorney General through utility settlements are expected to assist about 15,000 Oregon households with bill payments and weatherize the homes of more than 1,000 families. The grants provide $5.5 million to help pay the energy bills of low-income households through Oregon HEAT, a non-profit, and Oregon Housing and Community Services, the LIHEAP and weatherization grantee. Another $4.5 million is being allocated to weatherize low- income dwelling units, including existing housing and new, energy-efficient housing yet to be built through programs conducted by OHCS.

The grants will also provide about $800,000 to support a statewide case management system through OHCS. Case managers based at Community Action Agencies (CAAs) will focus on program integration and consumer education, so that families seeking help to pay bills will also be able to access additional services such as weatherization and conservation training. Other grants covering smaller programs are listed in the above-mentioned announcement.

The grants are the result of settlements with El Paso Corp. and Duke Energy. The settlements conclude a coordinated investigation into allegations of price manipulation and antitrust violations in the Western power market initiated in January 2001 by the attorneys general of Oregon, California and Washington. So far, the investigation has resulted in settlements totaling over $2 billion, of which approximately $50 million has been allocated to Oregon.

Source: Office of the Governor

Page Last Updated: January 19, 2006