Senators Collins, Hassan, Reed Lead Colleagues Urging Administration to Act to Lower Heating Costs for New England Families

The Senators’ recommendations include releasing inventory from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Jack Reed (D-RI) led a letter that was signed by a group of their New England colleagues, including Senator Angus King (I-ME), in calling on the Biden Administration to help lower energy costs for New Englanders as the winter season approaches and heating prices are expected to be higher than last year.

“We write today to urge federal action to address the heating needs of our country’s households as we approach and enter the upcoming winter season,” the Senators wrote.  “Given the current state of energy markets and the lingering economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic – and in preparation for the cold weather season in New England – we urge your administration to consider and prepare to take targeted actions.”

The U.S. Energy Information Administration is predicting that households that heat primarily with propane, natural gas, or heating oil could spend significantly more on their heating costs this winter, including spending up to 94 percent more for households that use propane.

“These predicted costs will have a very real effect on the ability of many New England families to keep their homes at a safe temperature this winter,” the Senators continued.  “No family should have to make the decision between paying their bill to keep their children warm, putting food on the table, and keeping the lights on.”

In order to help lower the costs of heating for New Englanders, the Senators are calling on the Biden administration to utilize stock from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to lessen the effect of potential residential energy price increases on New Englanders’ household finances.

In addition to Senators Collins, Hassan, Reed, and King, the letter was co-signed by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

Click HERE to read the letter.

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Senator Collins has been a longstanding champion of improving energy efficiency and lowering heating costs for all Americans.  Senators Collins and Reed led a letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) swiftly and at the highest level possible.  Earlier this year, Senators Collins and Hassan introduced the Home Energy Savings Act to help lower energy costs for families and reduce carbon emissions by expanding and extending a tax credit for energy efficient home upgrades. 

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