The community action program that serves Aroostook, Washington and Hancock counties said it is getting up to 200 voicemails a day from Mainers who are anxious about how they will pay their fuel bills this winter.
Jason Parent, CEO of AVEC Community Action, said some already have empty fuel tanks.
“We’ve had some households that have been without fuel for over a month and are just at the critical point that it’s starting to become unbearable,” Parent said.
Heating oil prices in Maine have now topped $6 a gallon.
The high price of heating oil is a particular challenge for older Mainers on fixed incomes.
MaineHousing said elderly Mainers are the largest percentage of the state’s population using the Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as HEAP.
Parent said the agency recently made an emergency allocation of fuel to an elderly couple who were waiting for federal assistance to replace their home heating system, which had been condemned.
“They couldn’t afford to replace it. They were on a waiting list,” Parent said. “So, we had to allocate emergency funding to go into a less than functional heating system because we couldn’t tap the federal resource.”
Maine receives $38 million to $40 million a year in HEAP funding.
Maine’s two senators have unsuccessfully urged the Trump administration to release HEAP funds early this year.
According to a 2025 State Legislative Dashboard, Penobscot County helped 5,600 homes with about $2.9 million in assistance. Aroostook County was second, helping 4,900 homes with about $2.5 million.
MaineHousing said about 50% of Mainers rely on heating oil now, down from 70%, largely due to the installation of heat pumps, but rebates are now out of reach for low-income residents.
The state said it does have about $4 million in left over HEAP funds from last season, which it will use to make early vendor payments for residents over 60, families with children under 6, and residents with disabilities. But that money cannot be used until this year’s HEAP funds have been released. The Department of Health and Human Services typically does so by Nov. 1.
MaineHousing also said to apply to HEAP early if you think you will need help this winter.
The state agency will soon announce grants to fund up to 12 overnight emergency warming centers across the state this winter.
This story appears through a media partnership with Maine Public.