HEATING ASSISTANCE & RESOURCES 

State Rep. Kate Hogan, 3rd Middlesex District

Bolton Hudson Maynard Stow

Dear Friends,

Autumn in our region is beautiful, but veteran New Englanders know that cold weather is right around the corner. That means it’s time think about, and plan for, heating our homes over the winter. Unfortunately, due to high natural gas and oil prices stemming from the Russia-Ukrainian war and other factors, heating and electricity utility bills are predicted to dramatically increase this winter.   

Following is a list of resources that can help. In addition, the Baker-Polito Administration is consulting with the federal government to create a winter heating plan, which we will share once available.   

The Councils on Aging (COAs) in our towns are on-hand to help our seniors with information, referrals and support when applying for fuel assistance. Give them a call if you need assistance or want to learn more.

If you have questions or need help, please contact me at Kate.Hogan@mahouse.gov or 617-722-2600. I will also be holding Office Hours to meet one-on-one with constituents on October 4, from 6-7 pm at the Hudson Public Library.

Best,

If you haven’t done so recently, a good first plan of action is correcting energy inefficiencies. The nation-leading Mass Save energy efficiency programs run by the Massachusetts investor-owned utilities can provide residents with information about how to reduce their energy use. This should lead to lower bills over time. 

In addition, income-eligible renters and owners can qualify for no-cost energy upgrades to their home through Mass Save's Low-Income Energy Affordability Network (LEAN) program.   

To schedule a free energy efficiency audit, contact MassSave at 1-866-527-SAVE (7283).

Residents who are serviced by the community-owned municipal electric utility Hudson Light & Power can schedule a free home energy audit by calling the Energy New England hotline at 888-772-4242. The audit includes free infra-red screening.

Most utilities in Massachusetts offer flexible payment plans, regardless of income, and potential balance forgiveness. Enrolling in a payment plan can protect customers against shutoffs for up to 12 months with most utility companies. Contact your utility to determine whether a payment program is the right option for you.

Eversource 

Eastern Mass: 866-861-6225 

Western Mass: 877-963-2632 

National Grid 

800-322-3223  

Hudson Light & Power

978-568-8736

Homeowners and renters whose household incomes do not exceed 60 percent of the estimated state median income -- $81,561 in a four-person household in fiscal year 2023 --  can apply for fuel assistance through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). To learn more and apply for assistance, call the Cold Relief Heatline (800) 632-8175 or visit these Community Action Agencies:

(Bolton residents): visit the New England Farm Workers Council (NEFWC) in North Central Massachusetts at 473 Main St., 3rd floor in Fitchburg or call (978) 342-4520. 

(Hudson, Maynard and Stow residents): visit the South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc. (SMOC) at 7 Bishop S. in Framingham or call SMOC at (508) 872-0765. 

Good Neighbor Energy Fund  If you don't qualify for federally-funded assistance programs, you can apply for the Salvation Army's Good Neighbor Energy Fund. The Good Neighbor Energy Fund provides utility assistance to qualifying families in the middle income level.

For more information on these services, please contact the Framingham Corps at (508) 875-3341 or visit them at 350 Union Avenue, Framingham, MA 01702. 

To make a contribution to the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, please visit the Salvation Army's website: https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org/massachusetts/. You can also mail a check payable to "Good Neighbor Energy Fund" directly to The Salvation Army at 25 Shawmut Road, Canton, MA 02021-1408. 

Massachusetts residents are protected by Massachusetts law (MGL c.164, § 124F) from having their gas or electric utilities shutoff from November 15, 2022, to March 15, 2023 if those services are used for heating. Constituents will still be responsible for any unpaid bills when the shutoff ends. The Attorney General's offices encourages customers to enroll in a utility payment plan, which also provides shutoff protections, and avoids accumulating debt. As stated above, most utilities offer payment plans for up to 12 months. 

Residents in communities with active municipal aggregation programs may consider switching from their electric company to the aggregation. The long-term electricity contracts used in these programs, typically set for three years’ time, result in stabilized electricity costs that are not subject to the same short-term price fluctuations (although upon program renewal, prices may increase). We encourage all communities to consider whether municipal aggregation is a good fit for them moving forward.