The Northeast’s reliance on heating oil is turning into a crisis

Heating oil prices in the Northeast have roughly doubled since February, driven by the war involving Iran disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and Ukrainian strikes curbing Russian diesel supply. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association projects a 50% average cost increase across the region, or about $878 per household and $3.8 billion overall, with Vermont and Maine facing jumps as high as 76%.

Federal heating aid through LIHEAP, which Trump has repeatedly proposed eliminating, has survived but faces pressure from both parties to release funds faster than its November 1 deadline. HHS told reporters it will meet that deadline, though the program's roughly $4 billion won't stretch as far against this winter's prices without additional congressional funding that won't move before the midterms.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency, expanding aid eligibility to 156,000 low-income and 50,000 middle-class households and activating price-gouging protections. The White House referred comment requests to HHS rather than answering directly.

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