Maine Public Utilities Commission’s Low-Income Assistance Program  has increased funding and expanded eligibility for this year; individuals to receive letters if eligible
 
 The Governor’s Energy Office, Maine Public Utilities Commission, Office of the Public Advocate, and Department of Health and Human Services are partnering to encourage eligible Maine residents to apply for financial assistance with their electricity bills this winter. Starting Nov. 21, DHHS is sending letters to 67,000 Maine residents eligible for the Low-Income Assistance Program with information on how to receive financial assistance.  

The LIAP program, administered by the PUC, received a boost from $15 million to $22.5 million this year when lawmakers and the Governor provided one-time additional funding for the program from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund. The PUC also expanded income eligibility for the program, which together with increased funding will allow it to serve 46,000 additional Maine residents this season. 

The letters from DHHS are expected to arrive over the coming days. All recipients need to do is show the letter to their electric utility to automatically receive LIAP benefits. Contact information for Maine’s electric utilities is included in the letter. 

“We encourage participants in the Department’s programs to keep an eye out for these letters,” said Ian Yaffe, Director of the DHHS Office for Family Independence, in a news release from the Governor’s Energy Office. “Spending five minutes or less to present the letter  to your utility can mean spending much less on your electricity bill this winter.” 

DHHS encourages those who do not receive a letter and need assistance to fill out this online form to have their potential eligibility evaluated. The amount of financial support through the LIAP program is variable depending on household income, size, and other factors. Those who are enrolled in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) do not need to apply for LIAP as they will automatically be enrolled.  

Although federal forecasts anticipate energy prices in the North East to be lower this winter compared to the prior two years, the region continues to be over-reliant on fossil fuels, in particular natural gas for electricity generation. Furthermore, Maine is the most home heating oil dependent state in the U.S. with over 56 percent of households relying on either heating oil or kerosene as their primary source of heating.  

The GEO recently released its 2023 Winter Heating Guide to help Mainers save money on home heating and stay warm this winter. The Guide includes key information, helpful tips, and links to online resources where consumers can find heating information, options, and assistance programs.