The Maine Department of Energy Resources said Oct. 22 that the cost of heating oil in Maine reached an average of $6.04 on Oct. 19, an 83 percent increase from October 2025.

The state's weekly survey of Maine heating fuel prices shows the previous record high for heating oil in Maine was set in September at $6.02 per gallon.

“Maine has broken yet another record for heating oil prices, putting even more pressure on families as winter approaches,” said Celina Cunningham, Acting Commissioner of DOER, in a news release. “With rising costs and cold weather on the way, I encourage Maine people to stay informed of current prices, review incentive options through Efficiency Maine, and to contact their Community Action Agency if they need immediate relief."

In 2022, the price of heating oil rose to $5.92 per gallon, as the statewide average.

Based on a standard 275-gallon oil tank, residents are now estimated to pay approximately $750 more to fill their tank to capacity than they would have one year ago, prior to the start of the Iran conflict, the release said.

Maine consumes more residential heating oil per capita than any other U.S. state and consumes significantly more per capita than other New England states. Approximately 50 percent of all Maine households rely on fuel oil as their primary heat source, although that figure has declined steadily from 70 percent in 2010.

Earlier this month, Governor Janet Mills called on Congress to provide additional home heating assistance as President Trump’s war in Iran continues to drive energy prices to record highs, the release said.

In a letter to Maine's Congressional Delegation, Governor Mills said that current federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is insufficient to meet the increased need caused by sharply higher home heating costs. 

Financial assistance for home heating is available through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), administered by MaineHousing. In addition to HEAP, the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP), designed to assist low-income households who are experiencing an immediate energy-related crisis, will open on November 1.

MaineHousing is urging residents to apply for HEAP as soon as possible and to begin the process before they are out of fuel or are experiencing a heating crisis. Priority households include those with a member that is 60 years of age or older, has a disability, or is 6 years of age or younger.

At current prices, switching from oil or kerosene to energy efficient heat pumps can save Maine households thousands of dollars annually in heating costs. Maine residents are encouraged to explore the wide range of cost-saving home efficiency incentives available through Efficiency Maine.

Earlier this month, DOER released its annual Winter Heating Guide for the 2026-2027 heating season. The guide includes practical home heating and weatherization tips for Maine residents, steps to access energy assistance programs, links to online resources including the latest energy prices, and more. The guide also summarizes energy efficiency and home heating programs available through MaineHousing, Efficiency Maine, Community Action Agencies, and other partners.