By Stephanie Grinnell

Staff Writer

There are a number of heating assistance programs emerging in the communities to assist people who could not otherwise pay for heating oil, including general assistance, help from Citizen’s Energy and  Keeping Neighbors Warm, an assistance program sponsored by local businesses. 

The Citizen’s Energy program is no longer available in Saco, according to General Assistance Director Michelle Hughes but Biddeford Health and Welfare Director Vicky Edgerly said Biddeford residents may still apply for the program, which gives 100 gallons of heating oil per family, based on income guidelines. 

Citizen’s Energy was originally contacted by Biddeford Mayor Joanne Twomey, who placed a call to the non-profit company following the failure of three local oil companies to honor pre-paid contracts with its customers. The original information from Citizen’s Energy was that more than 100 families would be eligible for the heating assistance, but due to increased donations, hundreds of families may now receive help. 

Edgerly said letters were sent to 97 families who automatically qualified for the available assistance but said the health and welfare office has recently been “swamped” with calls for help, delaying some applications. 

“Everybody and his third cousin are calling for oil,” she said, adding there are income guidelines for most of the programs. “We are trying to get people to understand that it is for people who don’t have other resources.”

Edgerly said people with money in savings accounts do not qualify for assistance. 

“If they have savings, they should not be applying. This is for people who have no resources and no help,” Edgerly said.

She said heating oil is a discussion among health and welfare directors across the state.

“Oil is the issue for everybody, nobody planned on this,” said Edgerly. “We are working our budgets as best possible.”

She said the office is still making appointments with people who need help and working with the Keeping Neighbors Warm program for those people who do not qualify for general assistance or for Citizen’s Energy funds. 

Edgerly said none of the programs are meant for emergencies because the applications take a few days to process. People should not wait until they are out of oil to call, she said.

Keeping Neighbors Warm emerged as a way to fill some of the gaps in the process, said Don Lauzier, vice president of Saco Biddeford Savings Bank.

“There are a lot of people out there that need some assistance that don’t qualify for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program),” he said. 

The group of local business owners set a goal to raise $100,000. As of press time, they had raised more than $21,000, Lauzier said. 

“It’s going to fill a big void in our communities,” he said. 

Any of the heating assistance programs can be applied for through the general assistance office. Keeping Neighbors Warm covers nine communities, including Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunk, Arundel, Kennebunkport, Dayton, Hollis and Buxton. Appointments must be made in advance with the general assistance office. Donations to the program are being managed by Maine Way, a non-profit organization based in Biddeford. 

The need for assistance is not only due to the weather this year, many customers of Veilleux, Price Rite and Perron fuels were left shivering in the cold when the companies’ owner, Nichols Curro III, failed to honor heating oil and propane contracts, leaving a number of customers with empty oil tanks and without the means to purchase additional fuel. 

The fallout of the companies’ closure is still being felt by propane customers left with tanks belonging to Curro. The attorney general filed a motion for an asset freeze, which includes any propane tanks belonging to the companies. Biddeford Deputy Police Chief JoAnne Fisk said people with propane tanks belonging to any of the three companies should contact Curro’s lawyer, George Marcus.

The asset freeze is being monitored to assure Curro does not try to engage in business as well as to assure none of the business or personal property owned by Curro is sold. The frozen assets may be used to reimburse customers, depending on the outcome of the investigation. 

As of press time, the only outstanding charges against Curro are driving to endanger and criminal mischief, stemming from an incident in January when Curro backed his vehicle into a news crews’ van.  

Multiple calls to Marcus were not returned as of press time. 

Contact Stephanie Grinnell by calling 282-4337 ext. 213 or email news@inthecourier.com.