Low-Income Heating Aid Returns to Wyoming after 45-Day Shutdown Freeze

Casper Star Tribune and Buffalo Bulletin contributed to this report.

A key heating assistance program for low-income Wyoming families is back online — just days after much of the state shivered through single-digit temperatures.

The Wyoming Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) restarted on Monday following a 45-day pause caused by the federal government shutdown. Although the shutdown ended Nov. 12, the money that funds the program didn’t actually get released until Friday. Once the funds hit, Wyoming received $9.6 million, allowing payments to resume immediately, officials said.

“With the restoration of federal funding, the LIEAP team has begun notifying applicants whether they are eligible to receive benefits and, if eligible, the amount of the benefit,” the program said in a statement.

LIEAP, which is run by the Wyoming Department of Family Services, had to stop sending payments in mid-October when federal dollars were frozen. But the state never stopped taking applications.

Officials urged people to keep applying so staff could process paperwork and be ready to flip the switch as soon as funding came through. During the shutdown gap, the agency received and reviewed about 4,000 applications, on top of roughly 1,100 that had come in before the pause.

Last winter, LIEAP distributed $6.1 million to 8,236 households across the state.

The program helps cover a portion of winter heating bills — for natural gas, electricity, propane, coal, wood and other fuels — for households making less than 60% of Wyoming’s median income, which was about $75,000 in 2024. Priority goes to seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children under 5.

Typically, LIEAP payments start around Nov. 1 and run through early spring. This year’s delay meant some families were left scrambling.

The gap in funding didn’t just cause stress — it put some Wyoming households at real risk, according to Wyoming 211 Executive Director Ann Clement.

“We mostly hear from our callers that many are unable to make any payment arrangements to avoid shutoff,” Clement told WyoFile. She said some people with medical issues “are being disconnected, lots of broken furnaces and no resources to assist with repair or replacement. Things just start to pile up.”

Even though Wyoming’s average residential electricity price is still lower than the national average, bills are rising here too. A report from the University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources found that home electric costs in the state were up about 4% year over year in August, compared to a 6% jump nationally.

Another safety-net program, Energy Share of Wyoming, also opened its application window on Monday. The nonprofit, funded by utility and energy companies along with private donations, steps in when “unusual circumstances” create financial needs that other assistance programs don’t fully cover.

Last winter, Energy Share raised $108,000 and helped 236 households, distributing about $75,423 for energy and propane bills.

This year, Energy Share has raised its income limits, meaning more families may qualify for help than in the past.

To learn more about Wyoming LIEAP or apply for assistance, visit the program’s website. To apply for Energy Share of Wyoming or to donate, go to that organization’s website.

Because services vary widely by community, one of the best starting points is Wyoming 211. You can visit the Wyoming 211 website, or dial 2-1-1 to connect with someone who can guide you to local programs for heating assistance, furnace repair, and other support.

For many Wyoming families facing another cold stretch, the restart of LIEAP — and the reopening of Energy Share — means at least one thing is warming up again: the chances of keeping the heat on this winter.