Lane County opened applications for its Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program on Jan. 5 and, in most locations, closed them the same day, some within in 30 seconds.
This year, the federal government shutdowndelayed LIHEAP, a program that offers utility credits to help pay for electricity, natural gas and heating fuel for low-income people. And when it did send funding to Lane County, it was $1.2 million less than last year.
Applications for seniors opened last month. Everyone else could apply Jan. 5 and the assistance was quickly claimed…