Gov. Baldacci should move forward with a special session of the Legislature to address a possible home heating oil crisis this winter.

Baldacci has committed to asking the Legislature for $5 million in funding to fill an expected gap in the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which is called LIHEAP.

Despite the yeomen efforts of Maine’s congressional delegation, Congress has flat-funded LIHEAP for this winter, appropriating only $24 million for Maine. While the amount is the same as it was last year, heating oil prices have nearly doubled in price during the last two years, meaning fewer people will get aid, and the aid they do get will be less.

The additional money will be desperately needed as the state falls into the full grip of winter. Whether it acts in January when it’s scheduled to meet or during a special session in December, the Legislature will be forced to address the LIHEAP shortfall. By meeting early, however, lawmakers can actually save money and speed assistance to the people who need it most.

A special session would likely cost the state between $35,000 and $40,000, but those costs are quickly offset by not waiting until January to take action.

According to Beth Nagusky, director of the Governor’s Office of Energy Independence, the state can save about $30,000 in administrative costs by cutting a single check that includes the state supplemental aid and the LIHEAP aid.

Additionally, early aid goes further. Nobody can predict oil prices, but historically oil prices go up as winter goes on, increasing between 10 and 15 percent from December to January and February. Nagusky estimates that by providing assistance early, those receiving aid would be able to purchase 276,000 gallons of oil more than if the aid arrives in 2006.

There’s always political risk in calling the Legislature back into session. You can never tell what lawmakers might do, but the session makes fiscal sense and puts state resources to work for people struggling to keep their homes warm.

The governor should call lawmakers back to Augusta and hold their feet to the oil fire to come up with money for heating assistance.