AUGUSTA -- A new legislative panel meets for the first time Wednesday to begin work on setting an agenda to help Mainers cope with the high cost of heating their homes.

The Presiding Officers' Heat and Energy Emergency Task Force will meet at 9 a.m. in the Legislative Council Chambers on the third floor of the Statehouse.

The task force will be comprised of the eight House and Senate floor leaders and assistant leaders of both parties, and five other members of the legislature, according to the House Speaker's Office.

The 13-member task force will be asked to hold at least five meetings and to take testimony from the public. The task force must issue a report by Nov. 28, before the next legislature is sworn in on Dec. 3.

In addition to the eight legislative leaders named to the task force, the presiding officers have appointed:

* Sen. Phil Bartlett, D-Gorham, Chair of the Utilities Committee

* Sen. Douglas Smith, R-Dover-Foxcroft, member of the Utilities and Natural Resources committees

* Rep. Jon Hinck, D- Portland, member of the Utilities Committee

* Rep. Bruce MacDonald, D- Boothbay, member of the Business, Research and Economic Development Committee

* Rep. Stacey Fitts, R- Pittsfield, member of the Utilities Committee