Updated guide designed to help Maine people stay warm and save money through the winter heating season
October 16, 2024
Augusta, MAINE – The Governor's Energy Office (GEO) today released an updated winter heating guide to help Maine people save money and keep warm this winter. The guide is available to view and download on the Governor’s Energy Office website.
"This comprehensive resource contains updated information on how Maine people can save money and stay comfortable in their homes this winter season," said Dan Burgess, Director of the Governor’s Energy Office. “While energy prices this winter are expected to remain similar to last year, volatile global markets can still have a significant impact on heating bills here at home. We encourage folks to use the winter heating guide to explore cost-saving options and learn about energy efficiency and heating assistance programs.”
“We all know preparing for winter is a year-round job in Maine and we thank the Governor’s Energy Office for this well-thought-out guide,” said MaineHousing Director Dan Brennan. “The guide is a handy, one-stop information source for all things related to saving energy, saving money and keeping your home comfortable during the winter. With our partners, both public and private, MaineHousing stands ready to deliver heating assistance to our most vulnerable households. There’s something here for everyone — this guide is a solid resource worth having at your fingertips.”
"At this time of year, Mainers naturally turn their attention to buttoning up their homes for winter," said Michael Stoddard, Executive Director of Efficiency Maine. "We encourage homeowners to visit our website’s extensive resources, from informative brochures and energy calculators to step-by-step instructions on how to learn more about and apply for incentives."
"As Maine people prepare and budget for winter, the cost of home heating is a key consideration,” said Bill Harwood, Maine Public Advocate. “Following the advice in this guide can help save valuable dollars and bring some stability to your home energy costs."
"Our Consumer Assistance and Safety Division hears daily from Mainers who are struggling to pay their utility bills," said Maine Public Utilities Commission Chair Philip L. Bartlett II. “This year we once again approved significant funding for the Low Income Assistance Program to help those in need. We encourage anyone who is having difficulty to explore all the options available to them, which are summarized in the heating guide.”
The guide includes key information, helpful tips, contact information and links to online resources where consumers can explore topics like heat pumps, wood and propane heating, and energy assistance programs. The guide also summarizes Maine energy efficiency and heating assistance programs available through local community action agencies, MaineHousing, Efficiency Maine, and other entities.
A recent forecast from the U.S. Energy Information Agency estimates that, depending on weather, energy prices this winter will be similar to last year’s prices. For the latest heating fuel and electricity prices in Maine, as well as historic prices, visit the GEO website. Heating fuel prices are updated weekly through the heating season.
Earlier this month, Governor Mills announced that the share of Maine households reliant on oil as their primary heat source fell by more than six percent between 2022 and 2023, the largest year over year decrease since at least 2010, according to new federal data. The share of Maine homes using heating oil as their primary source of heating has steeply declined in recent years, down from over 70 percent in 2010 to just over 50 percent in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Maine's decrease in heating oil reliance is strongly correlated with an increase in the use of high efficiency heat pumps for home heating, a direct result of the Mills Administration's efforts to expand access to the energy-efficient technology in Maine. With close to one-third of Maine's carbon emissions attributed to buildings, efficiency improvements to heating and cooling are a key strategy for reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions.
Maine remains the most heating oil dependent state in the country, making it vulnerable to shifting global oil markets and burdening households with high energy costs. Oil and kerosene are some of the most volatile and expensive energy sources for home heating and have experienced significant price fluctuations in recent years with oil reaching nearly $6 per gallon and kerosene over $7 per gallon in 2022.
Last year, Governor Mills committed to accelerating Maine’s transition to using 100 percent clean energy by 2040, a move that would ensure high efficiency heating technologies in Maine – such as heat pumps – are powered by clean electricity to further reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Currently, Maine ranks 5th in the U.S. for energy efficiency policy, according to the ACEEE.
With winter approaching, GEO encourages Maine people to see how they can reduce their home heating costs and stay warm all season by reviewing the 2024 Maine Winter Heating Guide, which is available to download here (PDF).
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