Gov. M. Jodi Rell unveiled details of an energy bill that legislators could see when they return to the Capitol to help residents deal with high heating costs.

They are scheduled to meet Friday for a one-day special session.

Rell's plan spends nearly $39 million of last fiscal year's surplus on emergency fuel assistance for needy and middle-income families, the elderly, nonprofit health and human service agencies and public schools.

The surplus was recently estimated at $85 million.

Legislative Democrats and Republicans both support spending surplus funds to help people with high heating costs. However, they have yet to agree on the details.

Beside heating expenses, the GOP calls for spending $3 million in surplus to help more families pay past-due electric bills.

Republicans also want to cap the wholesale price of gas taxed by the state at $3.42 a gallon.

"We recognize that this energy crisis is just that, a crisis," said House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk.

Legislative Republicans agree with Rell, a fellow Republican, on expanding the eligibility for Operation Fuel up to 100 percent of the state's median income, or $93,821 for a family of four.

It's unclear how much assistance they could receive.

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