Families face rising utility cost as winter approaches

OTTUMWA, Iowa (KYOU) - As temperatures start to drop, many Iowans will see their utility bills go up this winter.

Faith Tray, who works with hundreds of families, help navigate costs for utility bills through the low-income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP).

“Anybody who applies has to be under 200% of the federal poverty line. So, they can turn in their income and if their eligible and it helps give them a one-time award payment to their heat vendor,” said Tray.

While assistance programs can help families ease the financial burden, heating and air conditioning expert Jake Sandegren says small changes at home can make heating cost more manageable.

“The first thing is to know what you have in your house the age of it, anything over 10 years old needs to be serviced annually," said