State Senator, District 7

Hate to state the obvious, but it’s cold out. We are in the trawls of winter and feeling every bit of it. With temperatures below zero last week and barely in the 20s this week, people are struggling to keep their homes warm. I have been hearing from people in our area struggling with oil payments and electric bills. This is no time to be left out in the cold.

Maine will be the first state to begin using $6.4 million in federal Department of Energy funds to weatherize homes in January. The early start to getting the additional funding out will complement the state’s comprehensive efforts to help Mainers deal with heating costs and conserve energy during difficult economic times. Maine’s increased funding level for weatherization is more than double the amount received during the previous funding cycle. The weatherization program finances basic improvements to the homes of low-income households to make them more energy efficient. The typical weatherization project will reduce the home’s energy needs by 20 to 30 percent. The program is run by MaineHousing, and creates 52 direct jobs and 23 indirect jobs for each $1 million invested in weatherization work. Already, since 2008, MaineHousing has trained 320 new energy auditors and 95 weatherization technicians, and expects to invest more than $15 million in three different programs to weatherize nearly 4,000 homes.

MaineHousing also oversees the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), by providing funds to local community action programs. For information on LIHEAP or the weatherization program, please contact the People’s Regional Opportunity Program in Portland at 874-1140. For some programs, families with children under 24 months or with members who are elderly or disabled are given priority when applying.

As of Nov. 15, the state’s winter disconnection rules are now in effect. The rules ensure that those who contact the electric company or the Public Utilities Commission and make a good-faith effort to pay their electricity bills will keep their power on during the winter months. A provision added last year requires delivery of an informational packet to any customer whose service was disconnected for non-payment during the summer months and never got the service reconnected. The PUC’s rules bar utilities from shutting off power to any customer between Nov. 15 and April 15 without explicit permission from the PUC’s Consumer Assistance Division (CAD). The CAD will work with customers to establish affordable payment arrangements, and to find financial assistance for paying electric or gas bills.  Letters, phone calls and in-person attempts at contact the customer are all required before a disconnection may take place.

If a utility decides to seek permission for a winter disconnection, the CAD will immediately contact the residence and try to resolve the issue. The CAD will also help the consumer access any available financial assistance. Programs and protections include: The Low-Income Assistance Program (LIAP), a year-round assistance subsidy that provides utility bill discounts or credits to low-income families.  The fund currently is capitalized at $7 million; The Energy Crisis Intervention Program for eligible families which have received a disconnection notice and can not negotiate or honor an existing payment plan;  Emergency assistance from the Maine Department of Health and Human services when a disconnection is imminent;  Low-income customers who must use an oxygen pump or ventilator at least eight hours a day may qualify to receive a utility bill credit to cover the cost of electricity for the device.

Customers who have difficulties paying electric or gas bills should not hesitate to contact their utility to address the problem. If they are not satisfied with the result, they should call the CAD at (800) 452-4699. No customer should lose their electric or gas service during the winter months when freezing temperatures pose a significant risk to their health and well being. A timely call to the utility or the CAD should prevent a disconnection from occurring.

In closing, if I can ever be of any assistance to you or your family, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at home in South Portland at 799-8229, or in Augusta at 287-1515, or toll free, 1-800-423-6900.  I look forward to hearing from you.