Some residents in Huntsville, Alabama, noticed their electric bills went up by $100 after President Donald Trump signed a recent executive order.
Since becoming president in January, Trump has signed many executive orders to push his conservative plans. These orders have focused on immigration, ending diversity and equity programs, and changing policies related to the economy and energy production.
One of his actions included pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, canceling 78 executive actions from the Biden era, and putting a freeze on federal hiring.
On February 4, Huntsville Utilities informed some customers via letter that a $100 grant they had received earlier was no longer valid. This grant was provided by the Community Action Partnership of Huntsville/Madison & Limestone Counties.
A letter shared on Facebook explained that the grant, given on January 23, 2025, was canceled because of Trump’s executive order, which cut the funding for the grant. Customers were told that the $100 would be added back to their account and must be paid with their next bill.
However, more than $50 million in federal funds for Alabama’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) this year were not affected by Trump’s order. LIHEAP helps low-income families with heating bills and is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
LIHEAP also received $1 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which provided an extra $100 to households getting LIHEAP assistance. Trump’s “Unleashing American Energy” order paused this extra funding, so families who got the grant in January now have to pay it back with their next electric bill.
A Facebook post sharing a photo of the letter said: “Huntsville, Alabama had a federally-funded grant program to help low-income people pay their utility bills. Trump ended that program with an executive order, and now people are being billed to repay the grants they received in January. They won’t get this support anymore. When billionaires talk about cutting ‘government waste,’ this is what they mean.”
The “Unleashing American Energy” order states that all agencies must stop distributing funds from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 or the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Agencies must also review their processes for giving out grants, loans, contracts, or other financial support to make sure they follow the new order.
What happens next? If a customer was affected by the canceled grant, they should contact the Community Action Partnership of Huntsville/Madison & Limestone Counties for help.
