Maine: heating help, rebates and weatherization

Efficiency Maine heat pump rebates

Open nowMaineHeat pump & equipment rebatesWritten for homeowners

Status: Ongoing. Check the 'new construction' rule: from Jan 1, 2027 completed new-construction projects must have no furnace or boiler.

Any income: $1,000 per eligible outdoor unit up to $3,000 lifetime per housing unit. Moderate income: $2,000 per unit up to $6,000. Low income: $3,000 per unit up to $9,000. Efficiency Maine also offers home energy loans for income-eligible homeowners.

Who qualifies (as the program states it)

Heat pumps must be the primary heating system, sized for at least 80% of the peak heating load (100% with supplemental heat). Low income: someone in the household gets MaineCare, HEAP, SNAP or TANF. Moderate income: adjusted gross income up to $70,000 (single) or $100,000 (joint). Installed by an Efficiency Maine Residential Registered Vendor; claim within 6 months. Income-based rebates require the home to be the owner's principal residence.

Run by

Efficiency Maine

Heating fuels it covers or applies to

oil, propane, kerosene, electric

Heads up: Efficiency Maine's rebates are written for homeowners; renters should ask their landlord to apply.

Go to the official page

Sources: Efficiency Maine: Residential Heat Pump Rebates · Maine DOER: Winter Heating Guide 2026-2027 (PDF)
Last verified: Oct 17, 2026 (ET)

Efficiency Maine insulation and air-sealing rebates

Open nowMaineInsulation & weatherizationWritten for homeowners

Status: Current schedule (page title: up to $8,600).

Per zone: large attic/wall/basement (500+ sq ft) $4,000 low income, $3,000 moderate, $2,000 any income; small (250-499 sq ft) $2,000 / $1,500 / $1,000. Mobile-home underbelly $5,000 / $4,000 / $3,000. Air sealing $50 to $300 by area and income. Lifetime limit up to $8,600 for most homes ($5,600 for mobile homes).

Who qualifies (as the program states it)

Homeowner; installed by an Efficiency Maine Residential Registered Vendor; insulated space heated all season; claim within 6 months. Low/moderate-income rebates require verification (HEAP, SNAP, TANF or MaineCare; or AGI up to $70,000 single / $100,000 joint) and owner-occupancy.

Run by

Efficiency Maine

Heating fuels it covers or applies to

oil, propane, electric

Go to the official page

Sources: Efficiency Maine: Insulation rebates
Last verified: Oct 17, 2026 (ET)

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

Open nowMaineHeating-bill helpRenters can apply

Status: Open since Aug 3, 2026; runs until funds are exhausted or May 29, 2027. Apply early.

Helps homeowners and renters pay heating costs, including emergency fuel delivery. MaineHousing used about $4 million of leftover funds to give early credits to about 4,400 households that applied early and include adults over 60, children age 6 or under, or people with disabilities (Press Herald, Oct 8/12, 2026). About $41 million in federal HEAP funding (about $27 million for fuel) was expected to arrive late October. The average award was set this summer at about $700, so it buys less oil at $6/gallon.

Who qualifies (as the program states it)

Income limits depend on household size (see MaineHousing's page). Bring recent energy bills and your fuel type. If you are over the limit you may be able to deduct some medical expenses.

Run by

MaineHousing; local community action agencies and ProsperityME

Heating fuels it covers or applies to

oil, propane, gas, kerosene, wood/pellets, electric

• 2026-08-03: Applications opened
• 2027-05-29: Applications end or funds exhausted

Heads up: Local agencies report heavy demand and delays (see the CHIP entry for one example), so apply early and online if you can. Maine 211 can also help.

Go to the official page

Sources: MaineHousing: HEAP · Press Herald, Oct 8, 2026
Last verified: Oct 17, 2026 (ET)

Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP)

Opens soonMaineEmergency / crisis helpRenters can apply

Status: Opens Nov 1, 2026 and runs through Apr 30, 2027.

Crisis help if you have an extremely low supply of heating fuel. Start by filling out a HEAP application, then contact your local community action agency about crisis eligibility.

Who qualifies (as the program states it)

Based on HEAP eligibility plus an emergency supply situation; the agency decides.

Run by

MaineHousing; local community action agencies

Heating fuels it covers or applies to

oil, propane, kerosene

• 2026-11-01: ECIP season opens
• 2027-04-30: ECIP season ends

Go to the official page

Sources: MaineHousing: HEAP and ECIP
Last verified: Oct 17, 2026 (ET)

Central Heating Improvement Program (CHIP)

Check with agencyMaineInsulation & weatherizationRenters: landlord sign-off needed

Status: Demand is high: WAGM reported 155 Aroostook households waiting on repairs on Oct 14, 2026, with the local agency between contracts and expecting new funding within about a week.

Heating system repair and replacement for low-income households; priority goes to households with no heat. Households may owe a co-payment. Limited benefits up to $600 may be available for rental properties occupied by HEAP-eligible tenants.

Who qualifies (as the program states it)

Household is HEAP-eligible and the home is in good structural condition.

Run by

MaineHousing via community action agencies

Heating fuels it covers or applies to

oil, propane, gas

Go to the official page

Sources: MaineHousing: CHIP · WAGM, Oct 14, 2026
Last verified: Oct 17, 2026 (ET)

Community firewood banks

Check with agencyMaineCommunity help (wood banks, charities)Renters can apply

Status: Demand is up and some report supply running out early (Lake Region expects to run out by about Dec 1).

Wood banks operate like food pantries: free or low-cost firewood for elderly, disabled and low-income households. The Sun Journal (Oct 13, 2026) names the Maine Wood Bank Network (Freeport), Bethel Wood Bank, Midcoast Firewood Bank (Topsham; two cords to any household that needs it), Kennebec Wood Bank, Webster Wood Bank (Salem Township) and Lake Region Woodbank (Bridgton).

Who qualifies (as the program states it)

Varies by bank. Contact the one nearest you. We did not verify each bank's current rules.

Run by

Volunteer wood banks (Maine Wood Bank Network, Midcoast, Bethel, Lake Region and others)

Heating fuels it covers or applies to

wood/pellets

Heads up: Wood stoves need inspected chimneys and safe operation, as the wood banks themselves remind households.

Go to the official page

Sources: Sun Journal, Oct 13, 2026
Last verified: Oct 17, 2026 (ET)