AUGUSTA — The average projected payment through a federal program helping low-income Mainers heat their homes isn’t expected to be enough to buy even 100 gallons of heating oil this winter.

That’s alarming to a coalition of local officials who met Friday to plan ways of assisting the region’s most vulnerable at a time of climbing energy costs.

Last winter, about 63,500 Maine households, with an average income of $16,300, received Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program benefits averaging $802 for the heating season, according to MaineHousing, which oversees the program for the state.

This year, with the $23.9 million in LIHEAP funding currently proposed by the federal government, if the same number of people seek assistance their average payment will be cut by more than half, to just $307 for the entire winter.

At current prices, that would buy less than 100 gallons of heating oil.

Some oil dealers won’t even deliver less than 100 gallons at a time, while others charge an extra fee for deliveries of that amount.

Others, however, will make exceptions.

“If somebody calls up and they only have $307 in fuel assistance, and that’s all they can afford, we understand that, we’ll deliver $307 of fuel to them,” said Lynn Ouellette, liquid product specialist for Augusta Fuel Company. “We try as hard as we can to work with those folks.”

In other cases those receiving the benefits may have to come up with the difference between the LIHEAP payment and minimum 100-gallon delivery cost, according to Kelly LaChance, LIHEAP program manager for Kennebec Valley Community Action Program, which distributes money in Kennebec, Somerset, Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties.

The Home Heating Challenge Group, a central Maine coalition that meets regularly through the winter to coordinate the use of resources and exchange ideas about helping people stay warm, met Friday at Augusta City Center and discussed the growing demand for help, and shrinking resources with which to provide it.

Kathy Kinch, manager of program operations for MaineHousing, said the $23.9 million proposed LIHEAP funding may be conservative, as a final federal budget hasn’t been passed yet. She said both the House and Senate versions of the budget include somewhat more for LIHEAP.

Some years there has been supplemental LIHEAP money released by the federal government during the heating season, but Kinch warned against relying on that money because she is not aware of any additional funding coming.

There is also some emergency money available from various sources, but Kinch said, “It’s safe to say the emergency funds run out quickly. Demand in years past has been much greater than the available funds, unfortunately.”

Those who don’t already have an appointment with KVCAP for a review of whether they are eligible to receive LIHEAP funding could be in for a long, cold wait.

LaChance said someone calling for an appointment now is not likely to be seen until February, or even March.

“The phones do not stop, we have three people answering phones but there will still always be two or three people in our queue, waiting,” LaChance said.

Heating Challenge Group members urged people to live within their means and cut unnecessary expenses, such as cigarettes and cable television, if they’re struggling to heat their homes this winter.

Rob Gordon, executive director of the United Way of Kennebec Valley, suggested people close off unused rooms in their homes and take in elderly relatives for the winter if they can’t afford to heat their own residences.

“We need to encourage people to take maximum personal responsibility and plan ahead,” Gordon said.

An electronic device collection event scheduled today aims to raise money for heating assistance, and for a daytime warming center opening in January in downtown Augusta. The event, in which devices such as computers and televisions will be collected and recycled, is in the lower parking lot of the Augusta Civic Center, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647

[email protected]

RESOURCES FOR HELP

For help: Those in need of heating help may contact their regional community action program, which, for most of central Maine, is Kennebec Valley Community Action Program, at 859-1500, or 1-800-452-1926.

Information on heating help is also available by calling 211, or from you community’s general assistance office.

Donations to help area low-income people stay warm may be made through the United Way of Kennebec Valley or KVCAP.