The money represents Maine’s share of $450 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program contingency funding released Wednesday by the federal government. Another $156 million remains in the contingency fund.

“Maine is struggling under the grip of high oil prices and faces a difficult economy. This additional money will help a lot of Maine families,” Governor Baldacci said. “Unfortunately, it won’t solve our heating crisis by itself. We must continue to look out for our friends and neighbors, and work toward alternatives to costly foreign oil.”

Governor Baldacci thanked Maine’s Congressional Delegation for its efforts in Washington to have the money released by the federal government.

MaineHousing Director Dale McCormick also praised Maine’s delegation for its efforts to secure additional heating funds for Maine’s low-income households.

“The $8.8 million falls far short of what many families are going to need this winter to stay warm,” she said. “At today’s prices, the funding translates to an average of approximately 52 additional gallons for the 48,000 households that depend on LIHEAP to help heat their homes. The total benefit available this year won’t even buy one tank of oil.”

The base LIHEAP budget of $27.5 million currently is providing an average benefit of $579 for each eligible household. The supplemental $8.8 million will increase the average benefit to $750, McCormick said.

MaineHousing has not been notified when the additional LIHEAP funds will be available.  “But as soon as the money is transferred we will get it out to our oil dealers within a couple of days,” McCormick promised. “The oil dealers who participate in LIHEAP will be going the extra mile to deliver the oil to people who need help, because small deliveries are costly for them to make.”

Maine had requested an additional $20 million to $25 million in LIHEAP money from the contingency fund so that this year’s benefit would buy as much heating oil as last year’s.