Average cash price for heating oil in Maine hits $4.60 a gallon

[jpak]

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=193465&ac=PHnws

AUGUSTA — The state energy office began its weekly heating oil price survey four months ahead of schedule Wednesday by reporting that the average cash price for No. 2 heating oil statewide now stands at $4.60 per gallon.

During its 18-year history, the survey has been conducted between Oct. 1 and the third week in March, which roughly coincides with Maine's heating season. But because of rapid price increases, the Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security said it started monitoring prices well in advance of when furnaces begin to kick in.

"At today's prices, Maine will spend more than $7.7 billion on petroleum products, the vast majority of which is paid to foreign oil producers," said John Kerry, director of the energy office.

He said the survey's early start was intended to provide Maine families and businesses with the best possible information and was the first step in a comprehensive effort to help ease the impact.

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[Zachstar]

1. And it is only going to get worse.

China continues to grow. Oil will only get higher.

[Tesha]

2. I think it won't be long until someone designs a "drain-back" water supply system

I think it won't be long until someone designs a "drain-back"
water supply system for houses so that the hot and cold water
pipes don't ever contain standing water that can freeze.

Such a system will be very useful in the near future in all
of the climates where houses will get freezing cold during
the winter when folks can no longer afford to heat the entire
house due to the cost of heating fuel. This would allow you
to heat just the room your in without worrying about the
pipes in the rest of the house freezing and bursting.

Tesha

[DianeK]

3. I just locked in my oil price

at 4.69 a gallon. I am in Northern Vermont and last year I paid 2.69 a gallon

[Maine-i-acs]

4. There goes my Economic Stimulus check

Dang, I was going to buy a flatscreen too.

So our Govt. went further into hock to the Communist Chinese and the Mideast Dictators, so I can get some politically-gimmicky check that I can just sign over to the Mideast Dictators.

I don't feel economically stimulated at all.

[Possumpoint]

5. I Remember

in the 1950's Dsd complaining that heating oil had gone up from 16 cents a gallon to 19 cents. Fifteen years later he offered to sell that house to me. I turned him down. Made one good decision.

[fight4my3sons]

6. yikes!

not at all looking forward to winter here this year :scared:

[madokie]

7. Let me suggest that you look into buying a wood pellet stove

during these summer months when you may be able to get a pretty good deal. Our first pellet stove paid for itself in the first two winters over the price of propane. and the price of propane during those years, '92 - '93, was well below $1.00 a gallon. Wood pellets are made are using a waste product and are carbon neutral

[fight4my3sons]

8. We would love to.

The only thing is that my husband just got a new job an hour north of where we currently live and we are looking for a new place to rent. We are in limbo right now.