Winter Energy Costs Declared State of Emergency, With Up to $1,440 in Relief for 156K Americans

With rising costs continuing to be a major factor in financial planning for most Americans, one state is doing something to ease their burden ahead of the upcoming winter.

On Monday, October 5, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey made the unusual decision to declare a State of Energy Emergency over high winter energy costs. As part of the initiative, she signed an executive order expanding eligibility for home heating assistance,” according to the statement released by her office.

“Families are seeing the impact of the war in Iran every time they fill up their gas tank, place an order for heating oil or open their electric bill,” Healey said in her statement. “I’m declaring a State of Energy Emergency because in Massachusetts, we are going to use every tool we have to get people relief.”

For the first time, the state is offering heating oil assistance to households at 60 to 100 percent of the state’s median income, meaning families with earnings of $103,049 to $171,749 may now qualify for aid.

Approximately one in five Massachusetts households use heating oil, per the release, with costs up 70 percent over last year. The governor’s office is offering qualifying households a one-time benefit of up to $680 per household.

Funding will run from December through April, or until funding runs out, and will be managed by the same local organizations that currently provide home energy assistance.

Healey’s administration is also providing an additional $15 million in heating assistance to approximately 156,000 low-income households through HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program). This will increase the current support range of $525 to $1,200 per household by 15 percent for utility heat and 20 percent for oil heated homes, up to a possible $1,440.

The HEAP assistance period runs from November 1, 2026, to April 30, 2027, with homeowners and renters both eligible, including those whose heat is included in their rent.

Residents can apply and find more information on all of these programs at the state’s Heating Help website.