The Associated Press

SIOUX FALLS - Applications and funding for a heating assistance program likely won't change much this winter, but the dollars won't buy as much, state Social Services Secretary Deb Bowman says.

The federally funded Low Income Energy Assistance Program provided just over $10 million to help 18,059 South Dakota households pay heating costs last winter.

Funding for this winter depends on action pending in Washington, but Bowman said she expects the figure to be close to last year's total.

"I think what the challenge is going to be this year when it comes to the LIEAP program is we provide so much money per household, and maybe last year it cost $1,000 to fill your fuel tank and this year it costs $1,300," she said. "So the money is not going to go as far."

Eligibility and assistance amounts are based on the number of people in the home, household income, the type and cost of heating, and location in the state. Assistance payments are made directly to the energy supplier.

Money is distributed on a first-come basis from Oct. 1-April 30.

Bowman said there's been no noticeable surge in applications this year, an indication eligible households are aware of the program.

The LIEAP program has served from 15,623 to 18,169 households in each of the past six heating seasons and distributed $8 million to $10.2 million annually. The program, run by the Social Services Department, does not cover American Indian reservations, which are eligible for heating assistance elsewhere.

The Energy Information Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Energy, has forecast increases in residential heating costs in the Midwest of 50 percent for natural gas, 37 percent for heating oil and 32 percent for propane.

Some households that had to pay more for gasoline and food over the summer are still paying heating bills from last winter, said Cindy Dannenbring, executive director of Madison-based Interlakes Community Action, which serves the low-income and seniors in 14 counties.

"Our staff is working with them to find resources in the community because they can't get their propane or their natural gas turned on until they pay that back bill," she said.

Dannenbring said higher energy prices could affect other assistance programs.

"We're all trying to be prepared because I think things like food pantries will be hit harder," she said. "If people have to choose between fuel and food, then they may need to use their food pantries in their local communities more, which is difficult then for the food pantries because they'll have to have more food available."

Deb Cahoy, executive director of the Rural Office of Community Services at Lake Andes, said the higher cost of many necessities creates demand for assistance of all kinds.

"The fuel assistance program starts in October and depending on how harsh the winter will be, they'll be knocking on doors at the end of November, first of December because they've already used their allotment up," she said. "Basically it's one (fuel) fill-up and that's it."

In tandem with LIEAP is a weatherization program offering assistance in weather-stripping doors or windows, caulking cracks, insulating, installing windows, or improving a heating system.

Applicants must be eligible for energy assistance in order to be eligible for weatherization, with priority given to the elderly and handicapped as well as to families with small children.

Cahoy said her office can't fulfill the 100-150 requests it may get for weatherization help. Many times, she said, there is much to be done to keep out the cold.

"The homes we do work on a lot of times are old, old homes that are not very energy efficient, period, and trailer homes that are old," she said.

Tips to save energy* Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter.

* Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.

* Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.

* Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.

* Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.

* During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your southfacing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

* Select energy-efficient products when you buy new heating equipment. For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. The national minimum is 78 percent AFUE, but there are ENERGY STAR® models on the market that exceed 90 percent AFUE.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy