AUBURN – A revamped city loan program won’t help low income residents purchase heating oil this winter, but it may help them use less of it.

Councilors increased the amount of a low interest loan qualified residents can get from $5,000 to $10,000 Monday night. It’s designed to help them reduce their heating costs, according to Community Development Administrator Reine Mynahan.

“This is much more than just helping out when their furnace dies,” Mynahan said. “It’s part of an overall effort to reduce energy consumption from things like outside air leaks or lack of insulation.”

The city has set aside staff to speed up the application process and is working with contractors.

“We’re hoping to roll with as many of these as possible,” Mynahan said.

Mynahan said she’s had a number of requests for help in the past week, but the city can’t use the development department funds to pay for heating oil directly.

“We can’t buy them oil, but we can help them stretch out what they do buy,” she said. She estimates weatherization, insulation and work on furnaces could reduce annual heating bills by $2,000.

“At least they’ll get a savings, and then they’ll be ready for next year,” she said.

To qualify, applicants need to be low income homeowners or landlords with low income residents. They can qualify for up to $10,000 under the program – enough to repair or replace a broken boiler, if necessary.

Lewiston offers similar emergency loans through its community development department, for up to $5,000.

Deputy City Administrator Phil Nadeau said the city’s general assistance staff can provide vouchers for heating oil. Low income residents who qualify for help can get up to 200 gallons for December and 225 gallons for January and February.

“We’ll issue up to 100 gallons, and then see if things change,” Nadeau said. “If they don’t, they can still come back and get more.”

Both cities also urge low income residents to apply for state and federal help through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. More information is available by calling the cities’ community development departments.