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PY26 WHEAP Manual

Revised: August 2025 Chapter 2 | Program Introduction 2.1 Program Description WHEAP WHEAP is an umbrella term covering two different but very similar programs. LIHEAP is a federal program established to provide financial assistance for fuel costs for low-income households. The PB program was originally created in 1999 as part of Wisconsin’s biennial budget bill. Under this program, a low-income fund was created into which the electric providers in the state contribute an amount primarily generated by a fee added to customers’ electric bills. The money in this fund is divided between the energy assistance program and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). A provision of this law permits cooperative and municipal utilities to operate a Commitment to Community Program instead of participating in the PB fund. The customers of utilities choosing to operate a Commitment to Community Program are not eligible for energy assistance or weatherization benefits from the PB program. These customers may be eligible for LIHEAP- funded program services.

Both LIHEAP and PB are designed to assist eligible households with their heating and electric bills and have very similar functions and design with the major difference being that LIHEAP focuses mostly on heating assistance and PB provides benefits for non-heating electric consumption.

The two basic parts of energy assistance are Regular WHEAP Benefits and Crisis Assistance. In addition, an HE+ HVAC Program Services program is operated under WHEAP.

WHEAP benefits are not guaranteed to eligible households. When funds have been exhausted for a program year, there are no benefits issued to households regardless of eligibility.

Throughout the WHEAP Manual you will often see “heating season.” Wisconsin state statute 16.27 (4)(a) defines Wisconsin’s heating season as October 1 through May 15. Applications processed between May 16 through September 30 are not eligible for Regular WHEAP Benefits, yet if otherwise eligible may be considered for Crisis Assistance and other HE+ programs (see Chapter 5).

2.1.1 WHEAP − Regular WHEAP Benefits Regular WHEAP Benefits provide assistance with current season heating (LIHEAP) and/or non- heating electric (PB) expenses. Regular WHEAP Benefits are provided on behalf of eligible households to the fuel vendor (utility or deliverable fuel vendor) or, in a limited number of situations, directly to the applicant. Households may be eligible for one or both of the benefits. Applicants may receive only one regular heat and/or one regular electric (non-heating) benefit during each heating season. Regular WHEAP Benefits are paid out of a central account managed by DEHCR.

Regular WHEAP Benefits are not intended to cover the total costs of heat or electricity. Regular WHEAP Benefits may only be applied to the current heating season or program year. Some of the factors affecting the amount of the heat benefit include: • Total funding available for Regular WHEAP Benefits in the state • The income (reference Chapter 3) level of the household