FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Ryan Kiesel
Capitol: (405) 557-7372
Seminole: (405) 382-4737

Rep. Kiesel Seeks Relief from Escalating Energy Costs for Oklahoma's
Elderly and Working Families

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 14) - State Representative Ryan Kiesel (D-Seminole)
is seeking immediate relief for Oklahoma's elderly and working families
who will face unprecedented utility costs to heat their homes in the
coming winter.
Gas and oil prices have escalated, in part, because of the
disastrous effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the Gulf Coast.
The energy supply has diminished in an already tight market, causing
heating costs to soar in Oklahoma and across the nation. "Energy costs
will force Oklahomans to make tough decisions," Kiesel said. "Many
families will have to sacrifice basic necessities such as food and
medicine to pay their utility bills."
Representative Kiesel wants to focus the state's attention and
resources on LIHEAP, the Low Income Heating Assistance Program.
Representative Kiesel says the program's name is a misnomer. "This
program assists not only low income Oklahomans but also elderly
Oklahomans on fixed incomes and working families who, but for
skyrocketing energy costs, otherwise make ends meet."
LIHEAP supplemented heating costs for 93,144 Oklahoma households
from federal funds marked for the program last winter at an average of
$100 per family. The most recent census shows nearly twice that number
of Oklahoma families qualify for the program. "The program is woefully
under funded in its present format," Kiesel said.
During last year's relatively mild winter with relatively low
energy costs, all available funds were requested within six days of
receiving applications. Kiesel went on to say, "We know that heating
costs will increase from 48 to 68 percent depending on the weather, and
this will cost Oklahomans on average an additional $350 this winter."
Kiesel feels that it is "only logical that applications for LIHEAP will
be up from last year, and with no increase in state or federal funding,
thousands of Oklahomans will be devastated by the cost of staying warm."
Kiesel is aware of an Interim Study on LIHEAP by a House of
Representatives Committee scheduled for November. The Legislature is
currently scheduled to return to Session in early February. "We already
know that LIHEAP is under funded, serving only a fraction of the elderly
and other qualified families. There is enough information available for
the Legislature to act now." Kiesel said. "To wait until the last
month of winter to address the crisis is unacceptable."
Rep. Kiesel is currently working with LIHEAP officials to
determine the funding required to address the demand. Rep. Kiesel is
encouraged that Gov. Brad Henry recently expressed concern about rising
heating costs. Rep. Kiesel hopes Senate Pro Temp Mike Morgan and
Speaker Todd Hiett will address this issue before December 1, which is
the beginning of this year's LIHEAP application period. Rep. Kiesel
said he is willing to sponsor legislation to deal with this crisis
during a Special Session. "If Republicans and Democrats can't agree on
any of the other items already on the Special Session agenda, at the
very least we can come together to address this crisis for the sake of
hard working Oklahomans, their families, and the elderly on fixed
incomes." Kiesel added, "It will truly be reprehensible if thousands of
families are left out in the cold simply because elected officials
refuse to deviate from politics as usual."
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