Unless the prices of groceries and other retail goods takes a plummet, many senior citizens will or are seeking assistance to keep their oil tank filled this year. For several years, we’ve depended on “Call Joe for Oil,” otherwise known as Citizens Energy, run by Joe Kennedy. Their income limit is a little higher than Maine’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the application can be done over the phone.

Just before the second deep freeze set in for the winter, the news from Citizens Energy in Boston was not good. The Citgo Oil Heat Program would not be providing free oil this year, we were told.

Within a couple of days, however, another news item reported the program would be in operation. We weren’t sure what was going on. We know there is a very long wait at Maine’s LIHEAP program, administered through the People’s Regional Opportunity Program. For a few days, we just pondered the situation and the furnace continued to pump out warm air.

In checking e-mails in the morning of Jan. 19, we got an invitation from Citizens Energy addressed to “Oil Heat Participant” which said that applications were again being taken. Since we had taken advantage of this program for two years, we could simply fill out an application online and submit it. Within seven-10 days, we should receive a voucher good for a one-time delivery of up to 100 gallons of oil at no cost, from the oil dealer.

Before the political world steps in again, we hope you will take a few minutes and find out if you qualify for this free oil.

If you have Internet capabilities, go to www.citizensenergy.com, click on the Oil Heat Program, click on the Needs Assistance tab and an application will appear, which you can complete – OR – call 1-877-563-4645 (toll free) and apply over the phone. Be sure to have your oil dealer’s name and phone number handy when you make the call, as well as your monthly income figures. Applications over the phone take three to four weeks to process.

Residents and management in many towns in our readership area have formed some kind of group to assist those who might otherwise not qualify for the standard assistance programs. Be sure to check with your town or city clerk or council or selectmen to find out about emergency assistance. And if you just want to survey what’s available, pick up your phone and dial 2-1-1, which will be able to steer you to the right agency.

In addition to the reinstatement of the Citizens Energy Oil Heat program, we were pleased to note a healthy discount on the phone bill this month. Be sure to check yours if Fairpoint is the provider. We will also see a fairly good increase in our Social Security checks this year, and as we always say, every little bit helps.

If you have money-saving ideas, share them with the rest of us by contacting me at [email protected].