By November, the last bit of autumn warmth is mostly behind us. Sure, there are still a few brisk fall days for outdoor fun or the last bit of yard work, but the stacks of wood pellets in front of hardware stores and fuel trucks delivering home heating oil are a solid reminder that winter will soon be here; along with the heating bills.

Home heating oil use in Maine has declined over the last 15 years. Currently, about 50% of Maine households depend upon fuel oil as the primary source of heat and the increasing cost of home heating oil is a major concern for many families. The Maine Department of Energy Resources’ (maine.gov/energy/home) most recent survey of home heating fuel prices reported that the statewide average price for heating oil was $6.02 per gallon representing an 81 percent increase from last fall. Homeowners can expect to pay about $740 more to fill up a standard 275 gallon oil tank than they did a year ago. These price increases will certainly impact household budgets for Mainers of all ages.

Maine Housing helped over 45,000 households stay warm last winter through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) or LIHEAP and the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP). HEAP helps qualified homeowners and renters pay for heating costs, and ECIP helps eligible Mainers who are at risk of losing their heating source. Both programs are administered through Maine Housing and nine local Community Action Agencies. Maine Housing’s website has information about the energy conservation and heating assistance programs to help Mainers stay warm this winter. Applications are online as well at mainehousing.org.

Home heating bills are not the only utility expense that increases over the winter. Electric bills and other utility bills may cost more as well. The Maine Public Utility Commission (PUC) lists several resources to help families who are struggling to pay their bills (maine.gov/mpuc/consumer-assistance/programs). The website has practical first steps to help families contact their utility companies to discuss possible payment options or other assistance that might be available.

There is no doubt that Mainers are resourceful. We already turn the thermostat down and put on an extra sweater to save on energy bills. Before we need to reach for a third sweater, it is a good idea to make a plan for the upcoming heating bills. The Maine Housing and the PUC websites have useful resources to help us be prepared when winter arrives.

As always, please check out our upcoming events and programs and be sure to bring a friend. I hope to see you soon!

Joyce Bucciantini is a retired middle school educator. She currently coordinates Delta Kappa Gamma’s Read to Me program, is a tutor with Literacy Volunteers-Androscoggin, and is an active AARP Maine volunteer. She enjoys her gardens, being outdoors and traveling. aarp.org/me · me@aarp.org · @aarpmaine · 866-554-5380