Maine to receive $36M in early release of federal heating assistance

Maine is set to receive more than $36 million in federal funding to help low-income households and seniors afford rising fuel costs as nighttime temperatures begin to dip below freezing.

According to a press release from U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ office on Friday, this will mark one of the earliest releases of funds in the history of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP.

Last year the funding release was delayed by the government shutdown, and not available until December. 

The release noted that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Community Services will release $36,675,395 in LIHEAP funding for the State of Maine and $1,408,729 for the Wabanaki Nations.

Debate over energy costs highlights how differently Jackson and Collins approach governing

The recent spike in fuel prices, attributed to restrictions in the global supply due to the wars in Iran and Ukraine, on top of increasing costs for healthcare, food and other goods has become a key concern of Mainers and Americans more broadly, particularly as winter approaches.

Roughly half of Maine households use heating oil as their primary heating source. That number is down from 70% of households in 2010, according to the Maine Department of Energy Resources.

According to the latest data from the Maine Department of Energy Resources, the average statewide price of heating oil was $5.97 per gallon on Oct. 5, up roughly 79% from last year. That is down slightly from Sept. 21, when the average price reached a record high of $6.02. 

“I am pleased that these funds are being released to help Mainers afford to heat their homes this winter without having to choose between staying warm and paying for other basic necessities,” said Collins, who along with independent U.S. Sen. Angus King, was among a bipartisan group of lawmakers who sent a letter to HHS last month requesting the early release.

The Iran War and rising energy costs have become a major issue in the U.S. Senate race. During a Thursday debate against Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, Collins touted her behind-the-scenes conversations with Trump administration officials to get both the assistance funds and reserve oil supplies released.