Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative offers a Low-Income Assistance Program (LIAP) for qualifying low-income residential consumers. In 2006, this program was expanded to include additional assistance to low-income consumers who require oxygen pumps for at least eight hours of every day. The program is in conjunction with statewide low-income assistance programs. Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA), operating through the Community Action Agencies (CAA) or other designated entities, shall administer the programs. Only the tribal governments or community action agencies will accept applications. Interested EMEC members should contact the agencies listed below.
A customer of Eastern Maine Electric Co-op is eligible for the residential assistance program if he or she:
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Takes continuous year-round residential service;
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Has applied for and meets income guidelines for assistance from LIHEAP (the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program); and
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Is not receiving a housing subsidy that limits the household’s total housing cost, including utilities, to a fixed percentage of the household’s income.
If you applied for benefits through the Heat Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), your Community Action agency also had you complete an application for this program. The EMEC assistance program is a separate benefit program from HEAP, in that funds come from within Maine.
Benefits Applied Upon Certification: The Base Benefit is applied as a credit on the customer’s next bill following certification by the Maine State Housing Authority.
Benefits Based on Income Level: The benefits will be given based on levels of consumer income as a percentage of the poverty level.
