Affordable Heating

No Maine family or senior should have to choose between putting food on the table and keeping their home warm during the winter. Lowering heating costs requires concrete legislative steps: expanding emergency fuel relief, cutting utility bill surcharges, and providing upfront resources for home weatherization.

Need heating assistance this winter? Apply now: https://www.mainehousing.org/programs-services/energy/energydetails/liheap

How I will advocate to for affordable heating:

Expanding Emergency Heating & Fuel Assistance

  • Fully Fund Emergency Heating Assistance (HEAP/ECIP): Dedicated state supplemental funding to support the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) is something I will fight for in Augusta. We need to ensure that families and seniors on fixed incomes never face a heating shutoff.

  • Support Community Action Agency Capacity: I will support administrative grants to local agencies like York County Community Action Corporation (YCCAC) to clear application backlogs and accelerate emergency fuel deliveries.

  • Protect Heating Assistance in the State Budget: I will oppose budget cuts to critical winter heating lifelines and prioritize surplus revenues for low-income heating relief.

Lowering Energy Surcharges & Reforming Rates

  • Reform Net Energy Billing Subsidies: I will support legislation to rein in the runaway ratepayer subsidies driving up delivery charges, directly lowering the electric bills of homeowners and renters.

Long-Term Cost Reduction Through Weatherization & Efficiency

  • Upfront Weatherization Grants for Working Families: I will advocate to direct Efficiency Maine resources toward point-of-sale grants for insulation, air sealing, and draft reduction, permanently cutting heating demand and utility bills for older homes.

  • Target Mobile Home & Senior Housing Upgrades: I will support securing dedicated state funding for low-cost, immediate winterization kits and heating system repairs for mobile homes and senior residences across the state.