Heat Wave Contributes To Depletion Of Cooling Assistance Program

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A fund that helps needy Oklahomans pay their electric bills is now empty and officials say the persistent heat wave is the reason.<br/><br/>The state Department of Human Services

Tuesday, August 1st 2006, 8:44 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A fund that helps needy Oklahomans pay their electric bills is now empty and officials say the persistent heat wave is the reason.

The state Department of Human Services has given out the last of the $4.2-million it had in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help the poor with utilities.

About 29,000 households across the state received an average of $160 to offset the cost of keeping their air conditioners on.

Meanwhile the chairman of the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association is asking President Bush to release up to $102-million more for the nationwide energy assistance program.