Honolulu Community Action Program Inc. announced it will begin accepting applications Monday for its Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

The federally funded program assists low-income households on Oahu with assistance in paying their electric or gas bills once a year.

In 2014, more than 5,400 Oahu families applied for energy assistance through LIHEAP.

Residents can qualify for one of two programs available through LIHEAP. The first is “Gas or Electric Bill Payment Assistance,” whereby an energy credit is applied to the gas or electric accounts. The second is “Energy Crisis Intervention,” whereby households whose electricity has been shut off in the past sixty days or is scheduled to be shut off within seven days are provided financial assistance.

HCAP will accept applications at its five centers on Oahu, starting Monday and ending June 30.

To participate, applicants must bring their current gas bill or electric bill, proof of residence, photo identification, Social Security numbers, proof of age or disability and proof of income.

HCAP LOCATIONS

Central District Service Center: 99-102 Kalaloa St., Aiea Leahi District Service Center 1915 Palolo Ave. Leeward District Service Center: 85-555 Farrington Highway, Waianae

Kalihi-Palama District Service Center: 1545 Linapuni St., Kuhio Park Terrace (behind B building / Tower B) Windward District Service Center: 47-232 Waihee Road, Kaneohe

Weak economy dampens consumer mood

WASHINGTON >> A weak U.S. economy pulled down consumer sentiment in May.

The University of Michigan says its index of consumer sentiment dropped to 90.7 from 95.9 in April. The May reading was the lowest since November.

Consumers of all ages and income levels were gloomier this month. And they were less confident both about current economic conditions and the future. But Richard Curtin, chief economist of the surveys, noted that the index has averaged 94.6 the first five months of 2015, highest since 2004.

Drug switch ruled to violate antitrust law

ALBANY, N.Y. >> A federal appeals court has ruled that drug manufacturer Actavis PLC’s attempted switch of patented Alzheimer’s medication, which halted distribution of the old drug before its patent expires this summer, violates U.S. antitrust law.

The decision unsealed this week explains the ruling last week by a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that requires the Irish company to keep distributing Namenda until 30 days after its patent expires on July 11.

Proposal would cut ethanol levels in gas

WASHINGTON >> The Obama administration’s latest plan on ethanol, the corn-based renewable fuel, probably will not have a major effect on pump prices but could have political reverberations in Iowa and other farm states in the 2016 presidential campaign.

Under the proposed rule announced Friday, the amount of ethanol in the gasoline supply would increase in coming years, just not as much as set out under federal law. That approach drew criticism from ethanol and farm groups that have pushed to keep high volumes of ethanol in gasoline.

U.S. pushes anew for faster aid for Greece

DRESDEN, GERMANY >> The U.S. Treasury secretary on Friday once again warned eurozone countries that they should not delay reaching a deal on further aid for Greece, amid a growing sense that negotiations are moving too slowly to avoid the country’s disorderly exit from the eurozone, with repercussions for the global economy.

Jacob J. Lew, the Treasury secretary, has used meetings of Group of 7 finance officials and central bankers here this week to push for faster action for Greece. He repeated that message on Friday as the meetings concluded, warning of the risks if Greece and its eurozone partners do not reach an agreement soon.

“What we know for sure is that you keep raising the risk of an accident if you put off the action until whenever the next deadline is,” Lew said at a news conference.

ON THE MOVE

Bank of Hawaii has announced the following promotions:

>> Beverly Saito, service manager, has been promoted to vice president from assistant vice president at the Wahiawa branch. She joined BOH as an operations clerk in 1975 in Hawaii Kai.

>> Susan Segawa, trust officer, has been promoted to vice president from assistant vice president in personal trust. She joined BOH as a fiduciary administrator in 2008.

>> Kuan Yuan has been promoted to vice president in the investment management services. He started working for BOH as a trust specialist in 2007 and joined the investment management service team in 2009.