APIA raises heating aid point value to $175, reversing proposed cut

Heating assistance awards will rise this winter for low-income households in 10 Aleutian and Pribilof communities. The Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association raised the point value in its benefit matrix from $125 to $175 per point.

A household whose 2026 season award was $625 will receive $875 for the 2027 season if income and household composition do not change. A $750 award becomes $1,050. An $875 award becomes $1,225. A $1,000 award becomes $1,400. A $1,125 award becomes $1,575.

APIA said the state of Alaska accepted its request to increase the size of its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program allocation.

The increase reverses a public notice APIA issued July 15. Alaska News earlier covered that proposal, which would have cut the point value from $125 to $100, with a 30-day comment window that closed Aug. 15. APIA said at the time that the reduction was needed to serve the number of households forecast for the 2027 season, and that the cut would be amended back to the 2024 level of $175 per point if sufficient additional funds were approved.

APIA administers LIHEAP in Akutan, Atka, False Pass, King Cove, Nelson Lagoon, Nikolski, Sand Point, St. George, St. Paul and Unalaska. The program year runs Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027. Heating assistance takes 75% of the budget, winter crisis assistance 15%, and administration 10%. Eligible households in those communities depend on the per-point value to set how much help they get toward winter heating.

Energy costs in the region are high and projected to climb further. Alaska News earlier covered heating fuel reaching $7.55 a gallon on St. Paul Island. The Alaska Municipal League has estimated community energy costs rising 30% to 50%.

Separately, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan announced $10 million in additional federal LIHEAP funds for Alaska on top of the state's existing $12,158,876 allocation, to be distributed in September based on applications already on file.

APIA will begin processing applications for elders on Nov. 2 and for all other households on Nov. 16. Applications received before those dates will be held.

Both start dates depend on federal funding APIA has not yet received.