We in Maine understand that the ability to heat our homes and offices in the coldest months of the year is essential to survival. So it was especially disheartening to hear of instances of Maine families prepaying for their home heating oil only to be swindled by oil dealers who failed to supply the fuel or return the money taken.

As state legislators, we are responsible for ensuring that Maine families who pay for heating oil receive this essential resource and do not go cold in winter. Such instances brought to light the need to better protect Maine consumers and starkly discourage disreputable oil dealers from failing to meet the terms of their fuel contracts.

In response, we sponsored and stewarded through the Legislature a bill titled LD 1895, An Act to Protect Consumers by Strengthening the Laws Governing Prepaid Home Heating Oil Contracts.

The new law won approval from the Legislature and has been signed by the governor. It requires oil dealers who offer prepaid contracts for home heating oil, kerosene or petroleum gas to register the dealer’s intent to offer such contracts with the Maine commissioner of professional and financial regulation by June 30 of each year.

Oil dealers will then have to follow up by filing a report with the commissioner by Oct. 30, indicating the manner of compliance and acknowledging an understanding that providing false information is a Class D crime.

These reports will allow the commissioner’s office greater oversight to ensure that Maine consumers are provided with the fuel they have purchased. By clearly informing dealers that failure to stay true to these contracts is punishable, the new law will encourage awareness that being socially reprehensible, such behavior is also criminal.

We worked in a bipartisan manner and wish to thank the many oil dealers who came to the table to work with us and make this legislation a success. The commissioner of professional and financial regulation office and attorney general’s office also were instrumental in the many meetings that crafted the final legislation.

In Maine, we pride ourselves on our resilience to make it through the worst that winter has to offer unscathed. This new law will help ensure that no family goes cold because of unfair business practices that strip us of our warmth and money.

Rep. Alex Cornell du Houx, D-Brunswick, represents part of Brunswick in the Maine House of Representatives. He serves on the Energy, Utilities and Technology committee and works with the Truman National Security Project on national security and energy issues.

Rep. Kerri Prescott, R-Topsham, represents most of Topsham. She is the House chairwoman of the Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee, and works for Priority Group of Topsham as the director of communications and Marketing.

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