Energy

Reducing Energy Prices

Recently, energy prices have hit record highs across our country. Senator Rockefeller understands that this takes a toll on West Virginians' budgets. The Consumer Federation of America and the Consumer's Union have calculated that the average US household paid $2,277 for gasoline in 2006 (the most recent year data is available), which was up 78% from 2001. This is a real hardship for West Virginians, since so many travel long distances to get to work, school, or doctors' appointments.

In Congress, Senator Rockefeller is working on legislation to make us less dependent on foreign oil and fighting abusive gas company practices. He sponsored legislation to give the President, the Federal Trade Commission, and State Attorneys General more tools to investigate price gouging. The legislation also creates new consumer protections to prevent market manipulation and prohibit false reporting of oil and gas prices. Senator Rockefeller has also proposed the Low Income Gasoline Assistance Program (LIGAP), which would provide assistance to low and fixed-income individuals and families to purchase gasoline for travel to work, school, and healthcare appointments.

In addition, Senator Rockefeller has long supported efforts to fully fund the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that helps West Virginia's lowest-income families afford to heat their homes in the winter as well as cool their homes in the summer. It is especially important to families with elderly persons and very young children. In West Virginia, nearly 80,000 families are helped each year through LEAP, the state agency that administers LIHEAP funds. To learn more about LIHEAP or to obtain an application, call 1-800-642-8589 or visit www.wvdhhr.org/bcf/family_assistance/utility.asp.