Democratic lawmakers in Delaware have introduced a new bill, House Bill 50, aimed at providing financial assistance to low and moderate-income families struggling with rising energy costs. The bill, introduced by State Rep. Debra Heffernan, would create the Delaware Energy Fund without adding any extra cost to the state. The fund would be financed by CO2 allowance proceeds received through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a program to reduce carbon emissions from the power sector.
The assistance from the Delaware Energy Fund would be available to households earning less than 350% of the Federal Poverty Level, with recipients required to participate in energy savings and efficiency programs. The bill would also direct more funding to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to provide energy bill assistance to eligible residents.
The legislation from Democratic lawmakers comes after growing complaints from Delawareans about skyrocketing energy bills, with some attributing the increases to unusually cold winter temperatures. State Sen. Kyra Hoffner also raised concerns about potential third-party energy supplier scams and inconsistencies in energy bill price hikes.
The bill has been assigned to the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee and is expected to receive a hearing in March. Lawmakers are hoping to fast-track the bill to provide assistance to those in need as soon as possible. As discussions continue around the root causes of rising energy prices, the Delaware Energy Fund aims to provide relief to those most affected by the increasing costs.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
