Heating Oil Hits $6.21 a Gallon, Up 72% in a Year; 14,000 Households Have Already Signed Up for a New $680 State Benefit

The average price of home heating oil in Massachusetts was $6.21 a gallon as of Monday, up more than 72% from $3.61 a year ago, according to Department of Energy Resources data cited by the State House News Service. About 20% of Massachusetts homes heat with oil.

Gov. Maura Healey brought that number to a senior center in Attleboro on Wednesday, where about 30 seniors groaned at mentions of energy prices, the News Service reported. She said her own parents had just filled their tank at $6.49 a gallon.

"It's a hard time right now. I mean, it kills me. It kills me that people are having to decide between, you know, am I going to be able to turn on the heat? Am I going to be able to buy groceries?" Healey said. "I see you, OK? I see you, and I want to do everything I can to help you."

The stop did not include new relief. Earlier this month, Healey declared a "state of energy emergency" and issued an executive order that temporarily eliminated clean energy charges on electric bills for three months, created one-time heating assistance for middle-income households, expanded aid for low-income households and added legal protections against price gouging. Her administration says the plan will lower bills for about 85% of ratepayers. Healey again blamed the war in Iran for higher prices.

The new middle-income benefit is drawing interest. About 50,000 households are expected to qualify for a one-time payment of up to $680 for heating oil, and nearly 14,000 people have joined an interest list since the Oct. 5 announcement, Housing and Livable Communities Undersecretary Chris Kluchman said Wednesday at an event in Framingham, according to a separate News Service report. Applications open in December, and households can sign up to be notified.

Households earning between 60% and 100% of the state median income qualify for that benefit, which for a family of four means more than $103,049 and up to $171,749, according to the administration. Aid runs from December through April 30 or "until funding lasts." A Healey spokesperson said $34 million is available.

Lower-income households can apply for the existing Home Energy Assistance Program through community action agencies. The income limit is 60% of state median income, or $53,585 for an individual and $103,049 for a family of four. Andrea Mendoza, director of energy services at Action for Boston Community Development, said households can receive up to $1,450 this season, and that starting Nov. 1, HEAP can help qualify households for up to 95% off monthly utility bills.

The bigger fix remains stuck. Energy affordability legislation has been in private conference committee talks for months. Sen. Michael Barrett, who leads the Senate side, said, "We should do this, ideally, before a November election, so that those of us who have races can point to an achievement." Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said the reason to act before winter is that household budgets "have been destabilized by the cost of energy in a very real way." House Speaker Ron Mariano has said the House is not treating Election Day as a deadline.

Asked whether she had used every tool available, Healey pointed to the Legislature. "One option is for the Legislature to send me the energy bill that I filed. I would love to get that legislation that I filed that will save ratepayers $13 billion," she said. She did not respond when asked when she last spoke with the negotiators.

Republican nominee Mike Minogue says he would cut state-mandated utility fees on his first day, which his campaign says make up one-third of utility bill costs, and wants natural gas pipelines and an assessment of small modular nuclear options.

State fire officials are also warning about unsafe heating. Sheryl Hedlund of the Department of Fire Services said heating equipment is the main source of carbon monoxide and the second leading cause of home fires, with more than 1,000 home heating fires a year and carbon monoxide detected by firefighters in more than 5,000 incidents last year. "With home energy prices so high, we're deeply concerned about those numbers going up because of unsafe practices," she said, citing overreliance on electric space heaters, unsafe use of propane or kerosene heaters, and using a stove for heat. She urged residents to make sure they have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Still unknown: whether the energy conference committee will report a bill before winter, and whether the $34 million will cover everyone who applies.