FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
AUGUSTA, Maine — MaineHousing has issued nearly $4 million in early Home Energy Assistance Program payments to fuel vendors in anticipation of increased demand and a challenging winter heating season amid historically high heating oil prices.
Carryover funding from the 2025-2026 heating season will help about 4,400 of Maine’s most vulnerable households receive fuel before cold weather sets in. Priority households include those with older adults, young children, and people with disabilities.
By making the payments now, MaineHousing is enabling fuel vendors to begin deliveries and helping ensure these households enter winter with heating fuel available.
“By putting these carryover funds to work now, we hope to ease some of the financial pressure that extraordinarily high heating fuel prices are placing on Maine’s lowest-income households,” said MaineHousing Director Dan Brennan. “We know this assistance will not fully offset the outsized heating burden many Mainers are facing, but acting now means some of our most vulnerable households can begin the winter with fuel in their tanks.”
Maine is awaiting its annual federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The award typically arrives in late October or early November. Once the funding is available, MaineHousing will move quickly to pay fuel vendors serving approved applicants.
HEAP, Maine’s largest component of LIHEAP, helps approximately 40,000 households pay a portion of their home energy costs each season.
Maine receives approximately $38 million annually through LIHEAP, with about $26 million going to direct heating assistance distributed through local community action agencies statewide, and the rest used for energy-related programs including central heating improvements, emergency fuel intervention, and weatherization.
“We encourage anyone who expects to struggle with heating costs this winter to apply for HEAP now,” Brennan said. “Do not wait until you are facing a heating crisis or emergency. If you have not started the application process, now is the time.”
To review eligibility information and begin the application process, visit www.mainehousing.org and select the thermostat image on the homepage. Mainers may also contact their local community action agency. If you don't know which agency serves your community, call 2-1-1 Maine for help.
Maine is preparing for what is expected to be an especially challenging winter heating season.
Maine Governor Janet Mills recently urged Maine’s congressional delegation to increase LIHEAP funding and ensure the funds are released quickly so assistance can reach households before the first deep cold of winter.
“I applaud MaineHousing for getting this early assistance out the door to ensure that the most vulnerable seniors, children, and disabled Maine people have oil in their tanks as the cold temperatures arrive,” Governor Mills said. “I will continue to urge Congress to increase LIHEAP funding to ensure Maine people are not forced to choose between staying warm and putting food on the table this winter.”
MaineHousing, the Maine Department of Energy Resources, Efficiency Maine Trust and other partners are working together to help Mainers at all income levels prepare for winter, reduce energy costs and consumption, and connect with available resources.
Each fall, the Maine Department of Energy Resources publishes the Maine Winter Heating Guide to help residents stay warm, save money, and find emergency assistance when available. Read the 2026-2027 Maine Winter Heating Guide.
