Every month, I feel the weight of my electric bill a little more. I know I’m not alone. Across Maine, many of us — especially older adults living on fixed incomes — are watching electricity costs climb faster than we can keep up with. By early 2026, the average household was already paying close to $2,000 a year for electricity, and those costs are still rising. For many of us, this is a growing source of stress, worry and hard choices.

Maine’s Low Income Assistance Program (LIAP) has been a lifeline for more than 40,000 households. But even this essential support is falling short. For 2026-2027, LIAP is expected to be underfunded by about $19 million — leaving many of our neighbors spending more than the recommended 4% of their annual income just to keep the lights on.

No one in our state should be forced to choose between a warm home and groceries or medications — least of all our older neighbors, who’ve contributed to their communities for decades and who now deserve stability and dignity.

But there is a path forward. If the Legislature fully funds LD 995, it would close most of the gap and make a real difference in the lives of thousands of Mainers. 

I urge our lawmakers to seize this moment and fully fund LD 995. They should stand with the Mainers who rely on LIAP — not as a luxury, but as a necessity. Our most vulnerable neighbors are counting on them.

John White
AARP Maine Advocacy Volunteer
Greene