The ongoing government shutdown means a federal energy assistance program is on pause, leaving tens of thousands of Minnesotans who need help affording their utility bills in limbo. 

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is a federal program that provides assistance to low-income households. Minnesota received $125 million from it last year, which helped 125,000 households with utility bills through the state's Energy Assistance Program, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. 

Lissa Pawlisch, assistant commissioner of federal and state intiviates within the Division of Energy Resources in the department, told WCCO that in a typical year when the government is funded, the money flows to Minnesota by Nov. 1 — 30 days after the new fiscal year begins. 

But each day the shutdown continues, the longer the benefits will be delayed. There are also emergency benefits to help with urgent issues like furnace repairs, too. That funding is also held up. 

Pawlisch said officials are worried about what the continued shutdown will mean for Minnesotans, especially since temperatures can quickly drop in such a cold climate. 

"I'll say there's some anxiety for all of us," she said. "Someone could have an emergency on Nov. 1, we won't have the federal funds to be able to pay for that. So those primary heating benefits and those energy bill payments that may be less of an immediate concern. When we get those dollars, they will be able to come in and cover those costs. Those emergencies are the things that are making us most nervous right now."

Still, the department is taking applications for energy assistance and Pawlisch encouraged those who need it to continue to apply. 

Commerce so far has received 67,000 applications. The sooner Minnesotans can send those in, the faster they can get the benefits once Congress approves funding for the program and re-opens the government.

Annie Levenson-Falk, executive director of the Minnesota Citizens Utility Board, a consumer watchdog group, said she remains optimistic the funding will be coming. 

"I hope utilities will extend patience to people whose applications are caught up in the federal delay through no fault of their own," she told WCCO in a statement.