Gov. Janet Mills announced Monday that the first round of $450 heating relief payments is in the mail.

She says 200,000 checks will be mailed per week.

The relief payments are part of the governor’s emergency energy relief plan, which seeks to help Mainers heat their homes this winter.

Maine Revenue Services was expected to mail the first 5,000 checks Monday via the U.S. Postal Service.

The payments are expected to arrive in mailboxes later this week.

State officials say the vast majority of eligible Mainers are expected to receive their payment by the end of March.