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| 麻州州長Maura Healey簽行政命令，保護民眾今冬有暖氣可用。（周菊子攝） |
（Boston Orange周菊子麻州綜合報導）麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）今（5）日宣佈麻州進入能源緊急狀態 （State of Energy Emergency），並簽署行政命令，推出總額近1.5億美元的冬季能源救濟方案，將發給合資格州民每戶最高680元補貼，並連續 3個月刪除民眾電費單中的太陽能附加費。
麻州政府估計，將有85％的麻州家庭因此受益，有機會獲得這一次性的最高680元補助。
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麻州州長Maura Healey坦言她已遞出，請議會審核能源預算。為免審議法案曠日耗時，
他先簽署行政命令，採取行動幫助州民。（周菊子攝） |
Ｅㄒ冬季能源救濟方案旨在直接減輕民眾的荷包壓力。暖氣補助方面，凡年收入介於麻州中位數60%至100%（以四口之家為例，年收入約10.3萬至17.1萬美元）且使用暖氣用油的中產家庭，今年皆可申領最高680美元的救濟金，預估嘉惠5萬戶家庭。
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| 麻州州長Maura Healey到Everett市宣佈獎及能源法案。（周菊子攝） |
麻州府還將追加1,500萬美元撥款，推動低收入戶補助計畫（HEAP），把全州15.6萬個低收入家庭的暖氣用油戶補助提高20%、公用事業取暖戶提高15%，符合條件者最高可獲得1,450美元的帳單折抵。
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| 麻州州長Maura Healey簽署的行政命令。（周菊子攝） |
在電費與其他消費減免上，麻州當局將挹注8,000萬美元，於明年1月至3月免除電費單上的「太陽能推護附加費（SMART charge）」，並將「替代能源額度（APS）」減半，直接幫全州用電戶省下約1億美元的雜費。此外，州府亦聯合民間企業成立「緊急冬季溫暖基金」，並啟動防範石油價格哄抬的法律機制，同時推動暫停發放2個月州汽油稅（每加侖折抵24美分），盼多管齊下減輕民生負擔。
麻州政府指出，受到國際局勢與通膨影響，當地暖氣用油價格較去年飆漲73%，每加侖來到6.08美元，灌滿一次家庭暖氣油槽的費用比去年暴增近700美元。希莉州長因此正式宣布進入「能源緊急狀態」，並痛批川普（Donald Trump）政府的關稅政策與耗資440億美元的對伊朗戰爭引爆能源危機。希莉強調，除了透過行政命令直接幫民眾省錢，她已致函國會爭取30億美元的全國性取暖補助，並將持續擴大風電、光電與水力等潔淨能源發展，從根本降低能源成本。Governor Healey Announces New Winter Energy Bill Relief for Massachusetts Families
Governor declares State of Energy Emergency, removes charges from bills and expands heating assistance to deliver nearly $150 million in relief for Massachusetts households
Partners with Citizens Energy Corporation to create Emergency Winter Warmth Fund to provide additional help to families struggling with heating costs
BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey today announced new actions to help Massachusetts families lower their heating and electric bills this winter.
Governor Healey has declared a State of Energy Emergency and, through an Executive Order, is expanding eligibility for home heating assistance and removing charges from electric bills. This includes creating a new home heating assistance benefit for approximately 50,000 middle class households who rely on heating oil that previously did not qualify for existing assistance programs, as well as increasing heating assistance for approximately 156,000 low-income households as part of the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). The Governor will also eliminate the SMART program charge on residential electric bills for three months and cut the Alternative Portfolio Standard by 50 percent this winter. Overall, this plan will lower energy bills for approximately 85 percent of ratepayers. More information can be found at mass.gov/heatinghelp.
Additionally, by declaring a State of Energy Emergency, Governor Healey is activating legal protections in Massachusetts against price gouging of petroleum products. Governor Healey is directing all responsible state agencies to monitor, investigate and enforce rules against price gouging or excessive or misleading prices for petroleum products.
Governor Healey also sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging them to provide an additional $3 billion in emergency funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), bringing the program to $7 billion.
“Families are seeing the impact of the war in Iran every time they fill up their gas tank, place an order for heating oil or open their electric bill. I’m declaring a State of Energy Emergency because in Massachusetts, we are going to use every tool we have to get people relief," said Governor Maura Healey. “We’re delivering nearly $150 million in savings, including helping middle class families who didn’t previously qualify for assistance and taking charges off of electric bills for households and businesses across Massachusetts. I’m also grateful for the strong partnership of Congressman Joe Kennedy and Citizens Energy to create the Winter Warmth Fund to deliver additional relief to families facing sky heating bills.”
“Energy costs are putting real pressure on family budgets, and this plan gets relief directly to those who need it,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re helping middle class families heat their homes, increasing support for our lowest-income residents and taking charges off electric bills this winter. This is about meeting the moment and lowering costs for people across Massachusetts.”
“For too many of our neighbors, an unexpected heating emergency can quickly become a crisis — forcing families to make impossible choices between keeping the heat on and putting food on the table or paying other essential bills,” said former Congressman Joe Kennedy III, President of Citizens Energy. “Every family deserves a warm and safe home, especially when winter arrives in Massachusetts. The Emergency Winter Warmth Fund is about making sure no one has to face that choice alone. By bringing together Citizens Energy, the Commonwealth, and partners across Massachusetts, we can help families through the moments when they need a helping hand most and make sure no one is left out in the cold.”
The cost of heating oil is currently 70 percent higher this winter compared to this week last year and prices are likely to remain volatile. In Massachusetts, the average price of home heating oil reached $6.08 per gallon as of September 28, up 73 percent from $3.52 last year. Approximately one in five Massachusetts households relies on heating oil, particularly in older homes and rural communities.
“No one should be afraid to turn on the heat when costs are high. This is a matter of public health,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We are standing up new programs to help middle class families stay warm and safe this winter. We are also taking actions to provide savings on electric bills and expand support for low-income customers. This is also why we need to continue our all-of-the-above approach to energy to bring down costs and put an end to this costly volatility our residents can’t afford.”
“Rising heating costs are putting added pressure on families already struggling to keep up with everyday expenses,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Juana Matias. “Today’s announcement of increased HEAP benefits and expanded access means more Massachusetts households can get the help they need to stay warm this winter. The Healey-Driscoll Administration is delivering relief when families need it most.”
“Keeping Everett affordable and making sure our residents can get help when they need it is a priority for my administration,” said Everett Mayor Robert J. Van Campen. “No senior should have to choose between heating their home, putting food on the table or filling an essential prescription. Strong relationships with our partners at the state level are critical to addressing challenges like rising energy costs, and I’m grateful to Governor Healey and her administration for recognizing the pressure families are facing and taking action to provide real relief. When the City and the Commonwealth work together, we can make sure these resources reach the residents who need them most.”
Governor Healey’s energy affordability plan includes:
New Middle Class Home Heating Oil Assistance Benefit
For the first time, Massachusetts is creating a new home heating oil assistance benefit for households earning between 60 percent and 100 percent of State Median Income, extending assistance to middle class families that have traditionally fallen outside eligibility for existing heating assistance programs. For a family of four, this means households earning more than $103,049 and up to $171,749 may qualify for the new one-time emergency benefit.
Approximately 50,000 Massachusetts heating oil households are expected to qualify and receive up to $680 per household. Assistance will be available beginning in December until the end of the heating season on April 30, 2027, or until funding lasts.
The new benefit will be administered by the same local organizations that currently provide home energy assistance across Massachusetts. More information is available at www.mass.gov/heatinghelp.
Increased HEAP Benefits
The Administration will provide an additional $15 million to increase winter heating assistance for approximately 156,000 low-income households across Massachusetts.
HEAP is a free, federally-funded statewide resource that assists eligible renters and homeowners by paying a portion of their winter heating bills directly to their heating companies. During the 2025-2026 heating season, the HEAP program provided financial assistance to more than 156,000 Massachusetts households, representing over 300,000 people.
Current support ranges from approximately $525 to $1,200 per household. Under Governor Healey’s plan, households that heat with oil will receive a 20 percent increase in assistance, while households that heat with utilities will receive a 15 percent increase.
Homeowners and renters can apply for HEAP online at www.mass.gov/heatinghelp or through local administering agencies across the state. The assistance period runs from November 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027. Households whose heat is included in their rent can also qualify, and households do not need to be on public assistance or have unpaid heating bills to receive assistance.
Eliminate the SMART Charge on Residential Electric Bills for Three Months
The Administration will transfer $80 million in state funding to eliminate the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program charge from residential and commercial electric bills for three months this winter, while the program continues to deliver benefits to all Massachusetts ratepayers.
The SMART program supports incentives for qualifying solar projects across Massachusetts and is funded through a charge on electric customers. For January-March 2027, the state will cover those costs so they are not passed on to residential customers.
Phase Out the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard
The Administration will also take emergency regulatory action to reduce the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard by 50 percent this winter, providing an estimated $20 million in additional ratepayer relief.
The Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard was established in 2009 to support certain large heating and cooling systems, through costs included in electricity supply rates. The Administration will begin reducing required obligation for the program this winter to lower those costs for ratepayers.
Emergency Winter Warmth Fund
Governor Healey also announced in partnership with Citizens Energy Corporation the creation of a new Emergency Winter Warmth Fund to provide additional help to families struggling with heating costs this winter.
Citizens Energy Corporation will launch the fund with an initial $100,000 contribution. Funding will support both existing heating assistance for low-income households and the new middle class home heating oil assistance program created by Governor Healey. Contributions to the fund will be distributed through the existing network of local administering agencies, building on the state’s $49 million investment in heating assistance and helping more families receive support this winter. More information can be found at citizensenergy.com/warmth.
“We are grateful for the Governor’s leadership and for the heating help public/ private partnership that she has organized with Joe Kennedy and Citizens Energy to help thousands of vulnerable families stay warm, healthy, and safe this winter in the face of unprecedented energy cost burden challenges,” said Joe Diamond, Executive Director, Massachusetts Association for Community Action. “Households we help with fuel assistance, and now those with incomes just over the eligibility limit for federal fuel assistance, can breathe a little easier as winter approaches. Community Action Agencies look forward to helping households in need, regardless of heating fuel type, including home heating oil, for example, which is over six dollars a gallon - between 50% and 70% higher than last year at this time and likely to rise further. This initiative strengthens the comprehensive and integrated approach to heating help on which we partner with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities led by Secretary Juana Matias, and includes the provision of weatherization services to those who qualify for fuel assistance.”
Today’s announcement is the latest step in Governor Healey’s ongoing work to lower energy and transportation costs for Massachusetts residents. Governor Healey has delivered hundreds of millions of dollars in direct energy bill relief, including cutting residential electric bills by 25 percent and gas bills by 10 percent for two months last winter; brought new sources of lower-cost energy online, including hydropower that is expected to lower bills by about $50 million each year; activated Vineyard Wind contracts projected to save customers $1.4 billion; opposed utility rate increases and unnecessary charges; and filed energy affordability legislation projected to save residents and businesses more than $13 billion.
Last week, Governor Healey also filed legislation to suspend Massachusetts’ 24-cent-per-gallon gas tax for two months, expected to provide approximately $120 million in relief at the pump while protecting funding for roads, bridges and public transportation. The Healey-Driscoll Administration will continue using every available tool to lower costs and put more money back in the pockets of Massachusetts families.
