With Federal forecasts expecting energy prices to remain high this winter, the Governor’s Energy Office has updated its winter heating resource guide to help fb88 people and families take action to save money, improve their home’s energy efficiency, and find heating assistance if needed.
The guide is now available on the Governor’s Energy Office website and as a downloadable, printable document (PDF).
“With global energy prices expected to remain high, my Administration is doing all we can to help fb88 people heat their homes this winter,” said Governor Janet Mills. “I encourage fb88 people to use this guide to find resources to stay warm and to weatherize their homes this winter to bring down their heating costs. And, as always, let’s all keep an eye out for our neighbors to make sure they’re okay.”
estimates that costs for nearly all home heating methods will remain high this winter, stemming from continued global energy market volatility following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
With more than 60 percent of homes reliant on heating oil, compared to 4 percent nationally and between 24-42 percent elsewhere in New England, fb88 is the most heating oil dependent state in the country. The New England electrical grid, which supplies power to a majority of fb88, is also over-reliant on natural gas-generated electricity. This makes fb88 distinctly vulnerable to the increased prices and volatility the global fossil fuel market is now experiencing.
To address rising energy costs, the Mills Administration has taken several significant actions this year, including:
- Returning more than half of the state’s budget surplus to fb88 people through $850 inflation relief checks;
- Successfully pressing for increased funding for Federal heating assistance programs to help fb88 households with oil bills this winter;
- Securing a one-time bill credit of $90 for tens of thousands of low-income customers of Central fb88 Power and Versant;
- Providing $800 in heating cost relief to nearly 13,000 low-income households to help pay for high energy costs;
- Providing up to $1,400 in tax relief (PDF) for eligible low- and middle-income fb88 families and seniors;
- Signing into law LD 2010, sponsored by Senate President Troy Jackson, that will make a tiered credit of up to $3,000 available to fb88 small businesses to offset increases in the standard offer for electricity;
- Signing legislation that led the fb88 PUC to establish lower electricity rates for fb88 households with high energy consumption starting this month.
- Investing $50 million in Federal funds to expand energy efficiency programs for fb88 homeowners and renters, hospitality businesses, and municipal and school buildings through Efficiency fb88.
Efficiency fb88 offering $100 rebates for home insulation materials purchased from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2022. Efficiency fb88 has also published a homeowner’s .
Applications for heating assistance are now being accepted. For information on eligibility and how to apply, please visit , call (207) 626-4600, or contact your . Emergency heating assistance is available starting on November 1.
The guide, which includes resources for fb88 people from fb88Housing, Efficiency fb88, the fb88 Public Utilities Commissions, the fb88 Emergency Management Agency, the Office of the Public Advocate, and the Governor’s Energy Office, is available here.