Winter Heating Assistance Programs in Colorado

Winter in the mountains can produce bitter cold days and nights. As such, heating is the single largest energy expense for most Colorado households.

The primary mission of Canyon Cares is to provide emergency financial relief for area residents struggling to pay their bills. In addition, we help by sharing public and private resources available to those we support. 

One of these resources is a federally funded state program called the Low-income Energy Assistance Program or LEAP. The program is designed to help eligible hard-working Colorado families, seniors, and individuals pay a portion of their winter home heating costs.

Who Can Get LEAP?

To qualify for LEAP benefits, you must:

  • Pay home heating costs either directly to a utility company or to a landlord as part of your rent.
  • Be a Colorado resident and a citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States, or have a member of your household who is a U.S. citizen.
  • Have a total household income that’s 60% of the state median income or less. 

How LEAP Works

If you are approved for the program, LEAP looks at your current income and your heating costs for last year and then makes one lump-sum payment directly to your heating provider. The money helps pay some of the costs of heating your home throughout the heating season (applications are accepted November 1 to April 30). However, you can only get one LEAP payment in each heating season.

How to Apply

You can apply for Colorado LEAP:

When Your Heating Stops Working: CIP

In addition to assistance with energy bills, people enrolled in Colorado LEAP can receive emergency service if their heating system stops working through The Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) 

  • Repairing your broken heating system (this does not include routine maintenance)
  • Replacing your broken heating system, if needed, and
  • Snow removal in rural areas to make it possible to deliver fuel.

Colorado’s Weatherization Assistance Program

The Colorado Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) helps qualified Coloradans save money, increase comfort, and better their homes and the environment through proven energy conservation solutions.

Some of the no-cost energy and utility bill saving services offered include:
  • Energy audits
  • Energy conservation education
  • Air infiltration sealing
  • Insulation in attic, floors, and walls
  • Furnace repair or replacement
  • LED light bulbs
  • High-efficiency appliances
  • Solar
  • Air source heat pumps

Find out more here – https://energyoffice.colorado.gov/weatherization-assistance-program 

Published by canyoncares