LEWISTON – Citing federal projections, a state office is telling people they should expect to pay 30 percent more this winter than last to heat their homes with No. 2 fuel oil.
People who heat with natural gas – a utility available in limited areas of Auburn, Lewiston and Lisbon – will be hit much harder, paying up to 48 percent more.
Homeowners heating with propane are expected to see a 30 percent increase in their cost while those with electric heat should expect a 5 percent jump.
The figures were provided Monday by the state Office of Energy Independence and Security as part of its weekly survey of home heating fuels prices. The state office attributed the projections to the federal Energy Information Agency, an arm of the U.S. Department of Energy.
State fuels surveyors found the cost for No. 2 heating oil dropped 2 cents during the past week for a statewide average of $2.52 per gallon. That’s 59 cents more than the fuel cost a year ago.
The State Planning Office estimates that about 78 percent of Maine’s homes are heated with No. 2.
Monday’s statewide average for kerosene was $2.95 per gallon, also down 2 cents since last week’s survey, but up 75 cents from a year ago.
The survey found that propane increased by a penny since last week, averaging $2.28 per gallon, 42 cents more than a year ago.
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