Updated guide designed to help fb88 people stay warm and save money through the winter heating season
October 16, 2024
Augusta, MAINE– The Governor's Energy Office (GEO) today released an updatedwinter heating guide to help fb88 people save moneyand keep warm this winter. The guide is available to view and download on the Governor’s Energy Officewebsite.
"This comprehensive resourcecontains updated information on how fb88 people can save money and stay comfortable in their homes this winter season,"said Dan Burgess, Director of the Governor’s Energy Office.“While energy prices this winter are expected to remain similar to last year, volatile global markets can still have a significant impact on heating bills here at home. We encourage folks to use the winter heating guide to explore cost-saving options and learn aboutenergy efficiency and heating assistance programs.”
“We all know preparing for winter is a year-round job in fb88 and we thank the Governor’s Energy Office for this well-thought-out guide,”said fb88Housing Director Dan Brennan.“The guide is a handy, one-stopinformation source for all things related to saving energy, saving money and keeping your home comfortable during the winter. With our partners, both public and private, fb88Housing stands ready to deliver heating assistance to our most vulnerable households. There’s something here for everyone — this guide is a solid resource worth having at your fingertips.”
"At this time of year, fb88rs naturally turn their attention to buttoning up their homes for winter,"said Michael Stoddard, Executive Director of Efficiency fb88. "We encourage homeowners to visit our website’s extensive resources, from informative brochures and energy calculators to step-by-step instructions on how to learn more about and apply for incentives."
"As fb88 people prepare and budget for winter, the cost of home heating is a key consideration,”said Bill Harwood, fb88 Public Advocate.“Following the advice in this guide can help save valuable dollars and bring some stability to your home energy costs."
"Our Consumer Assistance and Safety Division hears daily from fb88rs who are struggling to pay their utility bills,"said fb88 Public Utilities Commission Chair Philip L. Bartlett II. “This year we once again approved significant funding for the Low Income Assistance Program to help those in need. We encourage anyone who is having difficulty to explore all the options available to them, which are summarized in the heating guide.”
The guide includes key information, helpful tips, contact information and links to online resources where consumers can explore topics like heat pumps, wood and propane heating, and energy assistance programs. The guide also summarizes fb88 energy efficiency and heating assistance programs available through local community action agencies, fb88Housing, Efficiency fb88, and other entities.
estimates that, depending on weather, energy prices this winter will be similar to last year’s prices. For the latest heating fuel and electricity prices in fb88, as well as historic prices, visit theGEO website. Heating fuel prices are updated weekly through the heating season.
Earlier this month, Governor Millsannouncedthat the share of fb88 households reliant on oil as their primary heat source fell by more than six percent between 2022 and 2023, the largest year over year decrease since at least 2010, according to new federal data. The share of fb88 homes using heating oil as their primary source of heating has steeply declined in recent years, down from over 70 percent in 2010 to just over 50 percent in 2023, according to theU.S. Census Bureau.
fb88's decrease in heating oil reliance is strongly correlated with an increase in the use of high efficiency heat pumps for home heating, a direct result of the Mills Administration's efforts to expand access to the energy-efficient technology in fb88. With close to one-third of fb88's carbon emissions attributed to buildings, efficiency improvements to heating and cooling are a key strategy for reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions.
fb88 remains the most heating oil dependent state in the country, making it vulnerable to shifting global oil markets and burdening households with high energy costs. Oil and kerosene are some of the most volatile and expensive energy sources for home heating and have experienced significant price fluctuations in recent years with oil reachingnearly $6 per gallon and kerosene over $7 per gallon in 2022.
Last year, Governor Millscommitted to accelerating fb88’s transition to using 100 percent clean energy by 2040, a move that would ensure high efficiency heating technologies in fb88 – such as heat pumps – are powered by clean electricity to further reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Currently, fb88 ranks 5th in the U.S. for energy efficiency policy, according to the.
With winter approaching, GEO encourages fb88 people to see how they can reduce their home heating costs and stay warm all season by reviewing the 2024 fb88 Winter Heating Guide, which is available to downloadhere(PDF).
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