LIHEAP, the federally-funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program that helps pay the bills of struggling utility customers, will not open on its previously scheduled Nov. 3 date this year.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services announced that because of the federal government shutdown, it has yet to receive its LIHEAP allocation for the 2025-2026 year. Typically, the state gets around $215 million annually to administer the program, which serves about 300,000 Pennsylvania families each year.

“Pennsylvania cannot backfill these costs,” the state’s announcement said.

The delay in the program’s opening, until at least Dec. 3, means low-income customers will not be able to rely on LIHEAP funds to avoid being disconnected for non-payment during the month of November. The state ha

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