Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Tuesday that she’ll call on the Bush administration to release oil from the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help ease soaring fuel prices.

She also said further shipments into the reserve should be put on hold until crude oil costs fall. Trading for oil contracts for November exceeded $54 a barrel Tuesday before falling more than $1 at the close of trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The senator was replying to questions put to her by the Sun Journal by e-mail regarding escalating home heating costs.

“The high cost of energy is a drain on our economy and a heavy burden for low-income families, in particular those who will be forced to make tough decisions again this winter about how to afford to heat their homes,” said Collins, a Republican.

“I am encouraged that the administration did release some oil from the SPR into the market to help relieve the shortage of supply for those who were affected by the recent hurricanes,” the senator said.

“I would encourage the administration to release more oil in the near future to help relieve some of the strain of extremely high prices,” she added.

“Since oil prices reached historic highs, I have fought against continuing shipments to the SPR until oil prices come down. The SPR is over 95 percent full and it does not make economic sense to continue contributing to the SPR when prices are still at all-time highs,” she continued.

Collins noted that high energy prices are spurred in part by demand exceeding supply.

“In the long term, it is imperative that we work to decrease demand.” she said. “I will continue to back measures such as increased CAF (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards that will require auto manufacturers to produce vehicles that are more fuel-efficient.

“In the short term,” Collins added, “I will continue to work to ensure that families who are in need, will have access to LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) funds. This program is vital to providing assistance to low-income families during the coldest months of the year. I will continue to ensure that Maine receives as many LIHEAP dollars that are available to our state and that Congress provides adequate funding for this crucial program.”

Last week she and Sen. Olympia Snowe issued a joint statement announcing that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released $1.2 billion in regular funding, including $20.8 million for Maine, for LIHEAP.

Last year the federal money provided assistance to more than 45,000 Maine households, the senators said.