CKCAC announces LIHEAP Summer Cooling Subsidy Program to help offset electric bills
Article By: Gina Clear, LINC Communications
Press Release | Aug 04, 2026
Press Immediate Release
Central Kentucky Community Action Council announces LIHEAP Summer Subsidy program to help residents offset electric bills.
Lebanon, Kentucky – August 3, 2026 — To help local families stay cool and manage high seasonal utility costs, the Central Kentucky Community Action Council (CKCAC) soon will open applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Summer Subsidy component.
The federally funded program operates through Sept. 11. Designed to alleviate financial burdens during the hottest months of the year, the Summer Subsidy provides a one-time electric benefit paid directly to the household’s utility vendor. Eligible households receive this benefit as a credit applied to their account for future billing.
Importantly, unlike winter crisis components, the LIHEAP Summer Subsidy does not require households to have a disconnect notice or a past-due bill to qualify. Because the subsidy acts as a credit toward future utility costs, residents are advised to continue paying their current electric bills in full to keep their accounts current and avoid late fees, service disconnections, or issues with rental agreements.
Funding is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to income-eligible households residing within CKCAC’s eight-county service area, which includes Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, and Washington counties.
“High summer temperatures mean air conditioners are running constantly, which can cause electric bills to skyrocket and strain family budgets,” CKCAC Executive Director Bryan Conover said. “This subsidy provides vital financial breathing room for our region. By applying a credit to future electric bills, we are helping neighbors maintain safe, cool home environments while easing the burden on their upcoming household budgets.”
To be eligible for the Summer Subsidy, a household must be responsible for its home electric costs (or have electricity included as an undesignated portion of rent) and have a gross total household income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Prior assistance received during fall, winter, or spring LIHEAP programs does not affect a household’s eligibility for this summer component.
All applicants must present the following documentation at the time of their appointment to avoid processing delays:
*Proof of Household Income: Documentation of all gross income from the preceding month for everyone living in the home.
*Social Security Cards: Physical cards or official documentation for all home occupants.
*Photo ID: Drivers License, State ID, or passport.
*Electric Bill or Lease: Your most recent electric bill (or a copy of your lease explicitly stating that electricity is included in your rent).
*Address Verification: Proof of your current residency such as an unopened piece of mail.
Residents are strongly encouraged to gather their paperwork early. For more information, to check eligibility guidelines, or to schedule an intake appointment, community members should contact their local county Central Kentucky Community Action Council office or visit
ckcac.org/about/locations.
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About CKCAC: As a private, non-profit agency, Central Kentucky Community Action Council, Inc. (CKCAC) is proud to serve an eight-county region comprising a combined population of nearly 275,000 residents. We also provide limited services in three additional Kentucky counties. Through a variety of programs and services, our efforts are impacting the lives of those located in Breckinridge, Bullitt, Franklin, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Shelby and Washington counties.
