Maine low-income mobile home residents can swap oil furnaces for heat pumps for $1,000

Heating and cooling upgrades are among the most effective ways to cut utility costs and shield households from rising energy prices.

Low-income mobile home owners in Maine now have access to a pilot program from Efficiency Maine that lets them replace expensive oil heat with whole-home heat pumps.

The program provides a $13,900 rebate, leaving the homeowner responsible for just $1,000.

What to know

Greystone Mobile Home Cooperative in Veazie has become the program's third participating park, joining Shady Oaks in Arundel and Fox Run in Lewiston, according to WABI.

The rebate is available through the end of the year.

Instead of heating only one room the way a wall unit might, the system uses ductwork to distribute warm air throughout the entire home. Jake Norris, who coordinates external organizing for the Maine Labor Climate Council, said participating mobile homes will receive these heat pump systems in place of their oil furnaces.

Maine state Sen. Mike Tipping, a Democrat from Penobscot, said kerosene costs more than $7 a gallon and heating oil is above $6 a gallon.

"We have the highest prices ever, we have the oldest housing stock in the country, and it is creating a crisis this winter," Tipping said, per WABI. "But what we're hearing right now is really concerning. People are looking at kerosene that is over $7 a gallon, oil that's over $6."

Because older homes and mobile homes often have weak insulation, Tipping told WABI that people who can least afford the expense are frequently the ones facing the highest costs, which is why he supports a program aimed at addressing the problem.

Improving heating and cooling is one of the most effective ways to lower energy bills and guard against higher fuel prices. Heat pumps can be added alongside existing heating systems while also providing air conditioning. Palmetto says it can help homeowners compare HVAC options, cut energy costs, and move to newer, more efficient systems and heat pumps.

For budget-conscious homeowners, Palmetto's Comfort Plan network connects them with efficient heating and cooling solutions and vetted installers, while offering payment plans that can include equipment leasing with no upfront cost and maintenance included.

More background

According to WABI, Greystone residents may have to choose between buying fuel and paying for medicine or lot rent.

Water access is also a concern. If residents cannot afford enough fuel to prevent pipes from freezing, they could lose water service in their homes.

Tipping said heating bills can be especially hard on mobile home residents with limited incomes because their homes often have less insulation than houses and the kerosene many use is more expensive than other fuel options.

What is being done?

To qualify, homes must meet energy-audit requirements for low-income residents, Norris said. Eligible residents include people who receive MaineCare, HEAP, TANF, or SNAP. The Maine Labor Climate Council has helped spread the word and support installations.

Dawn Bisson, who has lived at Greystone for nine years, applied after seeing how the program helped her neighbor. She invited neighbors to gather on her deck to talk about the struggle to pay for heat.

"I worry about my coworkers, my children, my grandchildren, and the people who live in this park," she said.

For homeowners who do not want to pay upfront, Palmetto's Comfort Plan includes $0-down options that can reduce heating and cooling costs by as much as 50%. The plans also include 12 years of free maintenance.

Homeowners can also combine solar panels with electric appliances, including efficient HVAC systems, to lower utility bills even further. EasyHome says it can help compare solar options and identify the best system and installer for a home and budget, with potential savings of up to $10,000 on solar installation.

More to explore

Across New England, homeowners are looking at heat pumps as a way to move away from expensive oil heat.

• A Maine ranch is preparing for a whole-home heat pump overhaul after losing heat.

• In Maine, some mini-split owners say cold-climate units can handle subzero winters without backup heating.

• Heat pump installation estimates of $20,000 to $25,000 are raising sizing concerns for a small house in Maine.

• Seven Massachusetts towns have stacked incentives that brought one heat pump cost down to $2,000.

• A New Hampshire homeowner who switched from oil to heat pumps says $6 fuel confirmed the decision.