The Maine Public Utilities Commission’s Low-Income Assistance Program is encouraging eligible Maine residents to apply for financial assistance with electricity bills this winter.
Together with Maine PUC, the Governor’s Energy Office, the Office of the Public Advocate and the Department of Health and Human Services, the program went from $15 million last year to $22.5 million in funding for this winter.
The funding will allow for an additional 46,000 Maine residents to be served.
On Nov. 22, DHHS started sending out letters to the 67,000 Mainers who are considered eligible. There is no deadline for those who are eligible to submit the letter to their power company.
“With additional funding, thousands of Mainers will be eligible to participate in this program for the first time,” said Philip L. Bartlett II, PUC chairman. “We encourage all who receive the letter to review it and contact their utility as soon as possible.”
The Department of Health and Human Services is also encouraging those who do not receive a letter and need assistance to fill out a form online to have their potential eligibility evaluated. The amount of financial support through the LIAP program varies depending on household income, size, and other factors. Those enrolled in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) do not need to apply for LIAP as they will automatically be enrolled.
