Assistance to High Energy Cost Communities (10.859)
Assistance to High Energy Cost Communities (Assistance Listing 10.859) is run by the Rural Utilities Service, part of the Department of Agriculture. It awarded $41.7 million in 24 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $1.7 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $1.5 million. Half of the 24 awards fell between $1.0 million and $2.4 million, and they ranged from $600,000 to $3.0 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$41.7 million
- Grant awards24
- Typical award$1.5 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$18.0 million
- Size rank1,086 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceProject grants
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $1.9 million in fiscal 2021 to $18.0 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1086th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 19 largest recipients received 100% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 3 states and territories.
What the program funds
The purpose of this grant program is to assure access to adequate and reliable energy services for persons in extremely high energy cost communities by providing financial assistance to acquire, construct, extend, upgrade, and otherwise improve energy generation, transmission, or distribution facilities serving the community.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Eligible applicants include States, political subdivisions of States, for-profit and non-profit businesses, cooperatives, associations, organizations, and other entities organized under the laws of States, Indian tribes, tribal entities, and individuals. The governments and entities located in any U.S. Territory/possession or other area authorized by law to receive the services and programs of the Rural Utilities Service or the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended, are also eligible.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Funds must be used to acquire, construct, extend, upgrade, and improve energy generation, transmission, or distribution facilities serving communities in which the average annual expenditure for home energy costs is at least 275 percent of the national average. Energy efficiency and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems are eligible. Not more than 4 percent of amounts made available in grant funds may be used for planning and administrative expenses. Funds may not be used to pay utility bills, fuel costs, or operating expenses.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Minimum award is $100,000 and maximum is $3,000,000.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2024: Exhaust heat recovery from an existing diesel plant to power organic Rankine Cycle generators to provide heat to the village water supplyFiscal Year2025: Purchase of the battery energy storage component within a larger geothermal project
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Assistance to High Energy Cost Communities (10.859) awarded $41.7 million across 24 grant awards, an average of $1.7 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Energy Authority | Alaska | 3 | $8.0 million |
| Alaska Village Electric Cooperative Inc. | Alaska | 3 | $4.2 million |
| City of Tenakee Springs | Alaska | 1 | $3.0 million |
| Native Village of Port Heiden | Alaska | 1 | $3.0 million |
| City of Nome | Alaska | 1 | $2.9 million |
| Dena Nena Henash | Alaska | 1 | $2.8 million |
| Akiachak Native Community | Alaska | 1 | $2.3 million |
| TDX Manley Generating, LLC | Alaska | 1 | $2.1 million |
| Yap State Public Service Corporation | Federated States of Micronesia | 1 | $1.8 million |
| Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium | Alaska | 2 | $1.8 million |
| Kwig Power Company | Alaska | 1 | $1.7 million |
| Inside Passage Electric Cooperative, Inc. | Alaska | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Yurok Tribe | California | 1 | $1.4 million |
| Kosrae Utilities Authority | Federated States of Micronesia | 1 | $1.3 million |
| Puvurnaq Power Company | Alaska | 1 | $974,000 |
| City of Saint Paul | Alaska | 1 | $800,000 |
| Naknek Electric Association Inc | Alaska | 1 | $786,948 |
| Nuvista Light & Electric Cooperative Inc | Alaska | 1 | $780,000 |
| Kawerak, Inc. | Alaska | 1 | $600,000 |
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 26% of the money, nonprofits 16% and tribes 3.4%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 14 | $22.9 million | 55% |
| State and local governments | 4 | $10.9 million | 26% |
| Nonprofits | 5 | $6.5 million | 16% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 1 | $1.4 million | 3.4% |
By state
Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 21 | $37.1 million |
| Federated States of Micronesia | 2 | $3.1 million |
| California | 1 | $1.4 million |