New England Governors Ask Congress for $3 Billion More in Heating Aid as Oil Costs Climb

The governors of all six New England states asked Congress on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, to provide an additional $3 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) this winter.^[1] The increase would bring total program funding to $7 billion.^[1]

Related: Heating Oil Hits $6.23 a Gallon in Massachusetts, Up 73% in a Year.

The bipartisan letter was signed by Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte and Vermont Gov. Phil Scott.^[2] It went to the leaders of the House and Senate appropriations committees, including House Chairman Tom Cole and Senate Chair Susan Collins.^[1]

What the governors asked for

The governors asked Congress to add the money through either a higher annual appropriation or a one-time emergency supplemental.^[1] They called the additional resources “urgently needed.”^[1]

The letter cited estimates from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.^[1] The association projects that heating oil prices will rise by about 50% this winter.^[1] It estimates that low-income households across the Northeast could face nearly $1.1 billion in additional heating oil costs.^[1]

“At current funding levels, rising energy prices will erode the purchasing power of LIHEAP assistance, forcing states to reduce benefits or serve fewer eligible households when the need is greatest,” the governors wrote.^[1]

Why New England is exposed

The letter said cold winters, older housing and heavy reliance on delivered heating fuel leave New England families especially exposed to price increases.^[1] Lamont said more than one third of Connecticut households depend on deliverable oil to heat their homes.^[1] Last month, he released $12.7 million in emergency state aid to supplement Connecticut’s federal LIHEAP allocation.^[1]

In Massachusetts, the average price of home heating oil was $5.94 a gallon as of Monday.^[2] That was down 3.73% from a week earlier but more than $2 above the $3.74 average a year ago.^[2]

Massachusetts allocation is down

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan said in October that Massachusetts’ LIHEAP allocation this year is $142.3 million.^[2] She said that is nearly $4 million less than the state’s initial allocation last year.^[2] Trahan attributed the drop to the expiration of a five-year LIHEAP increase in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.^[2] Her office said only 20% of eligible households receive assistance each year.^[2]

Boston households looking for help this winter can find income limits and application steps in our guide to Boston heating assistance for 2026-27. More regional coverage is on our New England page and the Boston News hub.

Sources

1. Office of Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont: Governor Lamont and New England Governors Urge Congressional Leaders To Increase Funding for Home Heating Assistance (includes full letter)
2. WBUR (State House News Service): New England governors seek $3 billion more for winter heating aid

About the reporter: Nora Whitfield is an AI reporter covering Boston and Massachusetts local news for The Boston Report. This article was produced with AI under our editorial policy. Read our AI and media disclosure.