LIHEAP Public Opinion Poll
Survey Summary: 2006

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BACKGROUND
This study is based on a random sample of adult heads of household in the fifty states. A total of 801 interviews were completed via telephone between September 9 and September 24, 2006. The margin of error for the survey is estimated to be +/- 3.53 percent at a 95 percent confidence interval. This study replicates surveys completed in 1999 and 2002.

OVERALL RESULTS
Public support for federal funding of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) remains strong and stable. Seventy-four percent believe the federal government should provide funding for low-income families and low-income senior citizens to pay for such services as home heating, cooling and lighting. Their support appears to be driven by rapidly rising beliefs (86%) that it is increasingly difficult for low-income families to pay their energy bills and the view among 87 percent of Americans that the cost of energy for their own home heating and cooling is rising - up from 71 percent in 2002 and only 62 percent in 1999.

Fifty-seven percent of Americans say that they would more likely support a congressman for re-election who voted to increase LIHEAP funding and only 15 percent would be inclined to vote for a congressman who voted to reduce or end LIHEAP funding.

PERCEIVED CHANGES IN ENERGY COSTS
Today, 87 percent of Americans believe the cost of energy they use to heat or cool their homes is higher today than just five years ago. This is up from the 71 percent reading collected in August 2002 and 62 percent in August 1999. Only one percent think these costs have diminished.

PERCEPTIONS ON DIFFICULTY LOW INCOME FAMILIES HAVE MEETING THEIR ENERGY COSTS
Eighty-six percent of Americans surveyed in this study believe it is more difficult than five years ago for low income families to pay for their energy bills. This is a historic high and compares to 78 percent in 2002 and 67 percent in 1999.

By ratios of 74 to 16, Americans believe the government should provide funding for low-income families and low-income senior citizens. This figure is basically stable compared to 2002 and 1999. After being read a description of the LIHEAP program, support for LIHEAP registers at an even higher level: 82 to eight percent. On the more specific question on whether funding for LIHEAP should be increased, left unchanged, or reduced, the survey finds: 72 percent favor increasing LIHEAP funding, five percent support making no change, only nine percent favor

PUBLIC AWARENESS OF LIHEAP AT 27 PERCENT
General awareness of the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) totals 27 percent. This is up from 26 percent in 2002 and 25 percent in 1999 and 20 percent in 1998. When asked whether they had seen or heard anything about LIHEAP for their state, only 27 percent responded in the affirmative with above average readings in the mid-Atlantic, Mountain, E.S. Central and E.N. Central states. Lower awareness is in the South Atlantic, New England and W.S. Central regions.

82% FAVOR LIHEAP PROGRAMS TO MEET ENERGY BILLS OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND THE ELDERLY DURING SEVERE WEATHER
On the general question of LIHEAP as a program to help low income families and the elderly meet their energy bills during severe weather, 82 percent of Americans favor the LIHEAP, while eight percent oppose it and the balance (10%) have no opinion.

BY 82% TO 9%, PUBLIC FAVORS EXPANDED LIHEAP FUNDING
ON the more specific question of LIHEAP funding, 42 percent favor "substantial" increased funding for LIHEAP. Three in ten favor "moderate" funding increases and five percent favor the status quo. Overall, support for increased funding rose from 68 percent in 1999 to 72 percent in 2002 and remains at 72 percent today.

Reduced funding is supported by only nine percent, including only six percent who favor no funding whatsoever.

POLITICAL IMPACT
Fifty one percent of Americans surveyed say they would be more likely to vote against reelecting their congressman if he/she voted to reduce or end LIHEAP funding this year. Only 15 percent would vote for the congressman casting such a vote. At the same time, 57 percent said they would more likely vote for a congressman who voted to increase funding for programs such as LIHEAP.

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