Hobbs wants funding for AZ energy assistance programs, but she needs support from GOP lawmakers

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs wants ongoing funding for energy assistance programs, but she needs support from Republican lawmakers to make it happen.

The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program assists households with utility bills. Arizona has a significant backlog of requests for assistance.

Hobbs wants to tack a $3.50 fee on short-term rentals to pay for in-state energy assistance, but GOP lawmakers haven’t taken up her proposal.

“I am happy to talk about other ideas of how we can make things more affordable,” Hobbs said. “So far, I haven’t seen that, but I'm willing to look at other options.”

The governor also assembled a taskforce to make recommendations on how to preserve affordable energy.

“That task force and their recommendations are going to be really important moving forward to ensure that energy stays affordable for Arizonans who need it,” Hobbs said.

Hobbs and Arizona’s two U.S. senators are also calling for a change to federal funding formulas to get Arizona a bigger share of federal low-income assistance dollars. But the governor said she hasn’t had a response yet from federal agency officials.

A recent study by Duke University’s Heat Policy Innovation Hub showed that cold-weather states receive more LIHEAP funding than hot-weather states like Arizona.

On Wednesday, Hobbs hosted a roundtable to discuss the value of the program with LIHEAP recipients and members of a Mesa social services organization.

Valley residents told Hobbs they’ve been able to get heating and weatherization in their homes for the first time with LIHEAP without spending thousands of dollars.

“Hearing your stories is exactly why I’m wanting to invest in these programs,” Hobbs said.

“That’s what having a social worker in the governor’s office does,” she joked.