Storms impact on production seen lasting

Oil, gas production won’t recover until summer, energy secretary says

WASHINGTON – Oil and natural gas production in the Gulf Coast area probably won
…Advocates for the poor have argued that as much as $5.1 billion in federal energy assistance is needed to keep up with the high fuel oil and natural gas prices people will face this winter. Energy legislation enacted earlier this year authorizes that much money, but Congress has refused to appropriate it.

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been funded at about $2 billion a year for several years. Congress, as part of a spending bill now being crafted, is proposing $2.2 billion for this fiscal year and an additional $1 billion in one-time emergency funds.

AP