Maine Emergency Heating Assistance Opens Under Federal Energy Program

AUGUSTA — Today MaineHousing is announcing the opening of the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) for the 2025-2026 winter heating season, starting on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. 

ECIP, which typically opens on November 1 each year, was delayed this fall because of the federal government shutdown, but federal funds have now been received for Maine’s portion of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and MaineHousing is now opening the program.

ECIP provides HEAP-eligible households with a one-time benefit of up to $500 for heating assistance if they are facing a winter heating emergency, including having no heat, having run out of heating fuel, or having less than a seven-day supply of fuel, are below a quarter of a tank of heating oil, or have less than 50 percent of a tank of propane available.

“MaineHousing is pleased it can now make available these critical crisis intervention funds that last winter helped more than 7,000 households with an emergency payment to their heating fuel vendors when they needed it most,” said MaineHousing Director Dan Brennan. “While the start of ECIP was delayed by a little over a month, being able to open it now, as our first real winter storm descends upon us, is gratifying.”

HEAP and ECIP, are administered by MaineHousing and a network of community action agencies that serve all of Maine’s 16 counties. The program also relies on participating fuel vendors throughout the state, who receive the funds from MaineHousing and deliver the fuel to the clients.

“We are grateful to our many local partners who make this vital program a reality,” Brennan said.

ECIP represents approximately $3 million of the more than $26 million in federal heating aid that helps approximately 50,000 Maine households heat their homes each winter.

To see the most recently available data on HEAP and ECIP in Maine, visit MaineHousing’s HEAP program dashboard. 

“With the receipt of these funds, both programs are now fully open for applications and regular HEAP payments will start being processed early next week,” said MaineHousing HEAP Director Bobbi Crooker. “MaineHousing and its partners encourage all potentially eligible households to begin the HEAP application process now if they have not already done so.”

Households can begin the application process online by visiting: www.mainehousing.org and clicking on the “fuel assistance” button in the center of the page.

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Additional Information

The Maine Department of Energy Resources’ Winter Heating Guide provides information for Maine people to help reduce energy consumption and stay warm in the winter.

The Guide includes links to energy consumer protection laws, tips for heating with wood and propane, and rebates and incentives for home efficiency upgrades. The Department also posts the latest Maine heating fuel prices online and updates them each week during the heating season.

Winter Heating Resources | Maine Department of Energy Resources