SENATE SUPPORTS MEASURE TO REMOVE BARRIER FOR MAINERS WHO RUN OUT OF OIL

Bill would allow oil drivers, not just master technicians to “bleed” furnace during emergency delivery

AUGUSTA – A measure to help save money for Mainers who have run out of heating oil received full support from the Maine Senate today.

Sen. Bill Diamond of Windham

The bill, LD 294, “An Act To Allow a Home Heating Oil Delivery Driver To Bleed a Home Heating Oil Burner, sponsored by Senator Bill Diamond of Windham, would allow a home heating oil delivery driver to bleed an oil burner to help restart the furnace. Under current law, only a licensed master oil technician can bleed a furnace at a cost of $100-$200.

“This small change in removing an unnecessary restriction has the ability to go a long way in making a big difference for many Mainers,” said Senator Diamond. “No person or family should be left in the cold because of a minor technical requirement.”

Senator Diamond proposed this legislation after he heard about the financial burden the extra cost of bleeding a furnace was for low income families, including the elderly, who run out of heating fuel and can barely afford to purchase the heating oil. All the while, the home stays cold because the furnace cannot start.

Senator Diamond has been working in conjunction with local oil dealer Dana Lampron, owner of Pit Stop Fuels, who delivers fuel to those in emergency situations through the Neighbors Helping Neighbors program. Senator Diamond is the President of the Windham community organization that helps low income homeowners with heating oil.

Lampron makes emergency deliveries for the program at any time of the day or night to homes that run out of heating oil. Unfortunately, some homes are not able to warm up after the fuel delivery because they need to be bled.

During the Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee’s public hearing, Lampron called the “real horror of running out of oil” is making the delivery and then standing with the single parent or elderly homeowner and telling them “there is nothing we can do to help get the furnace started.”

The bill, as amended, would remove this barrier by authorizing the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to provide a training course for oil delivery drivers to bleed a furnace.

Last year, Neighbors Helping Neighbors raised over $32,000 and helped provide heating oil for 101 families.

“This organization has already helped so many people at their most dire time and now I hope we are able to further help them by making this simple change in law,” said Senator Diamond. “Running out of heating fuel is bad enough. But then, to face further bureaucratic obstacles because your furnace cannot be started–even when fuel is delivered–is frustrating.”

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for their consideration.