AUGUSTA – A week into the state’s heating season, the price of warmth is already soaring.

Heating oil rose 8 cents per gallon on average since last Tuesday. At $1.78, it’s 53 cents more than it cost a year ago.

Kerosene is more costly: $2.06. That’s an 11-cent jump in a week, and 58 cents more than the fuel cost a year ago.

Propane’s increase wasn’t as steep, up 3 cents to $1.77 per gallon or 15 cents more than it cost on Oct. 6, 2003. The propane price reflects the cost of the fuel when purchased in bulk for domestic heating purposes.

Beth Nagusky, who directs the state’s Office of Energy Independence and Security, oversees Maine’s weekly survey of home heating costs. The State Planning Office actually conducts the review.

“These significant increases in Maine heating fuel prices,” said Nagusky in a statement announcing the survey findings, “are due in part to hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, which caused delays in oil shipments and cutbacks in production at U.S. refineries in the past two weeks.

“Short supplies of crude oil, which have led to $50 per barrel prices for the commodity, are also primary factors,” she continued.

Except for two days in February 2000, spot heating oil prices at the New York Mercantile Exchange are at record levels, the office noted.

Prices at the Merc fell slightly in trading Monday, dropping back below the $50 mark.

Meanwhile, heating oil supplies for New England are above average, and rose by 46.4 percent over a year ago as of late September. Stocks are 12.5 percent above the five-year average, the office said.

While the State Planning Office found oil, kerosene and propane prices all higher than a year ago, the increases weren’t drastic when compared to costs at the end of the heating season last March.

Heating oil, on average, was up 27 cents per gallon over prices at the end of March. Kerosene was up 28 cents over the March figure, and propane was up 3 cents compared to March.

Fuel prices
As of Oct. 4, 2004

Heating oil

Statewide Central Western Oct. 6, 2003 state average

Average $1.78 $1.75 $1.79 $1.25

High $1.88 $1.80 $1.88 $1.40

Low $1.65 $1.70 $1.73 $1.09

Kerosene $2.06 $2.03 $2.06 $1.48

Propane $1.77 $1.48
(Source: Maine Office of Energy Independence and Security)
Energy tips
The state encourages energy conservation, noting that every dollar spent for insulation and other improvements can save $2 in heating costs. Tips can be found at www.maineenergyinfo.com.