The Maine PowerOptions Fuel Program is available to all Members including Maine’s non-profits healthcare organizations, higher education institutions, water, sewer, and school districts, municipalities, non-profit 501c3 organizations, and the University of Maine System. As with our other programs, the fuel program is voluntary. We have provided our members from year to year with considerable savings compared to market prices while proving continuing administrative support throughout the year. 

Maine PowerOptions staff works with participating members to obtain their usage requirements for each product type, as well as locations, delivery locations and times, service requirements. This information then forms the basis of our RFP.

Each year, Maine PowerOptions initials a Request for Proposal(RFP) process on behalf of its eligible members for the purchase of fuel products. Maine PowerOptions will work with suppliers and watch market conditions to balance price conditions with member’s needs before determining the optimum time to solicit the RFP to suppliers statewide. Members usage information is then put out to bid to interested local oil suppliers throughout the state, giving them the opportunity to bid on one or more of the Maine PowerOptions participating organizations.  Typically bids are solicited annually from a large pool of fuel suppliers throughout Maine in late spring/early summer with awards to suppliers and member contracts in place by late summer.  We offer a wide range of pricing options as well as fuel products including #2, #4, #5, and #6 heating oil, gasoline, kerosene, diesel and propane.

Participation in the Fuel program has maintained a strong supplier and participant base from year to year.  At its highest level, Maine PowerOptions negotiated the purchase of 5.6 millions of gallons of fuel on behalf of 29 organizations. Using #2 fuel oil for comparison purposes, the estimated savings was 20%, depending on location, and tank size.