heating

The state's own rebates for weatherization, heat pumps and more are often worth more than income tax credits eliminated in President Trump's signature tax and spending law.

This year, the program will provide up to $500 in one-time emergency fuel assistance. Last year, households could apply for multiple payments worth up to $800 a season.

Fuel retailers are adjusting after the last several winters have been relatively mild compared to this winter.

The state has unveiled a new online application for benefits through the Home Energy Assistance Program.

State officials say that agencies have already received 8% more applications for aid, compared to the same time last year.

Lawmakers passed a $474 million emergency heat and energy assistance bill on Wednesday that will provide $450 “relief checks” to nearly 900,000 Maine taxpayers.

A legislative committee will hold a public hearing next week on a heating and energy assistance bill roughly two weeks after Republican lawmakers in the Maine Senate blocked passage of the emergency measure because they said the process was rushed.

A Republican and Democrat in the Maine Senate have introduced an alternative to Gov. Janet Mills' emergency heating and housing proposal that was blocked by GOP senators last week.

While the head of Aroostook County's agency welcomes the assistance sought by Mills, he's concerned it still might not meet the needs of all residents.

A bottleneck in the application process for low income heating assistance has slowed access to millions of dollars in funding. One lawmaker wants to speed up the process.