Maine to Receive $36 Million in Early Federal Heating Assistance Amid Rising Fuel Costs
Maine is slated to receive over $36 million in federal funding to assist low-income households and seniors with escalating heating costs. This allocation, announced by U.S. Senator Susan Collins' office, marks one of the earliest releases in the history of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Specifically, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Community Services will disburse $36,675,395 to the State of Maine and an additional $1,408,729 for the Wabanaki Nations. This early release is a direct response to a bipartisan request from lawmakers, including Senator Collins and independent U.S. Senator Angus King, to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The move aims to mitigate the impact of significantly increased fuel prices, with heating oil averaging $5.97 per gallon on October 5, a 79% increase from the previous year, though slightly down from a record high of $6.02 on September 21. Roughly half of Maine households rely on heating oil as their primary h...
