Energy Crisis Intervention Program in Maine Will Not Open on November 1
An ongoing federal government shutdown is leaving Maine and much of New England in the cold as we head toward the coldest months of the year.
AUGUSTA — Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, MaineHousing regrets to announce that the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) will not open on November 1 this year.
ECIP, a key part of the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP), relies on federal funds that have not yet been authorized due to the shutdown. HEAP funds typically cover critical heating assistance programs, including the $3 million ECIP, which provides emergency aid to thousands of Maine households facing an imminent heating crisis.
“This is a situation we never wanted to face,” said MaineHousing Director Daniel Brennan. “With no federal funds available, we cannot proceed with the program. We understand the severe impact this will have on Maine families, especially as winter approaches, and we share their anxiety.
While Maine’s community action agencies will continue processing HEAP applications, they will be unable to issue any payment until federal funding is secured.
ECIP, which typically serves around 7,000 households each year, provides emergency heating assistance of up to $500 to eligible recipients of regular HEAP benefits
“The inability to provide emergency heating support will devastate Maine’s most vulnerable households,” said Victoria Forkus, Executive Director of Maine Community Action Partnership (MeCAP). “This is a heartbreaking, entirely avoidable, and unfair reality for many families already struggling to barely make ends meet.”
Maine’s most at-risk households, including seniors, families with young children, and those with disabilities, will be hit hardest.
With winter rapidly approaching, there is growing concern across New England, where a significant portion of homes rely on oil for heat. In 2024, more than 50 percent of Maine households relied on oil as their primary heat source.
“We are closely monitoring the situation in Washington, D.C. As soon as funding is secured, we will reopen HEAP and ECIP to help those in need,” Brennan said.
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
ABOUT MAINEHOUSING: MaineHousing is a mission-driven, independent, quasi-state agency created in 1969 by the Maine State Legislature to address the problems of unsafe, unsuitable, overcrowded, and unaffordable housing. A $3.1 billion financial institution with a staff of over 180 people, MaineHousing is governed by a 10-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Governor. Each year MaineHousing assists more than 90,000 Maine households to buy, heat, rent, and repair their homes while also investing more than $750 million in the Maine economy.
