Massachusetts Declares Emergency Over $6 Heating Oil as Winter Bills Threaten 156,000 Households
Updated
Updated · Grist · Oct 7
Massachusetts Declares Emergency Over $6 Heating Oil as Winter Bills Threaten 156,000 Households
2 articles · Updated · Grist · Oct 7
Summary
Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency Monday as heating oil neared $6 a gallon, rolling out aid for 156,000 low-income households and opening assistance to 50,000 middle-class families.
Heating oil costs have jumped from the mid-$3 range in February because the Iran war, disrupted Strait of Hormuz traffic and Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries tightened global diesel supply.
NEADA projects Northeast home-heating costs will rise 50% this winter—about $878 per household and $3.8 billion overall—with Vermont and Maine facing possible 76% increases.
LIHEAP has about $4 billion and HHS says it will release at least 90% by Nov. 1, but lawmakers are pressing for faster distribution and Healey wants Congress to add $3 billion more.
More than 4 million U.S. households rely on heating oil, mostly in the Northeast, and officials warn existing aid may buy too little fuel unless prices ease or winter proves unusually warm.