AUGUSTA (AP) – Maine Gov. John Baldacci, warning of “a potentially serious energy problem this winter,” is urging the chief executives of other New England states to join a regional energy conservation campaign.

In the longer term, a proposal being circulated by Baldacci for comment envisions annual reductions in natural gas consumption of 1 percent through 2010.

Recent meetings involving state officials and ISO New England, which operates the region’s bulk power system and wholesale electricity markets, indicate the possibility of “some very tight natural gas supply margins this winter and, because of our heavy reliance on natural gas to fuel our electricity production, a remote risk that we may face electricity shortages during a portion of this winter,” Baldacci wrote.

Baldacci, who is serving as chairman of the Coalition of Northeastern Governors, told fellow New England governors in an Oct. 13 letter that “though it is important to recognize that actual shortages of natural gas are remote, the situation warrants immediate contingency planning.”

The Maine Democrat said ISO New England believes the region’s electrical load could be reduced by between 250 megawatts and 500 megawatts “with a coordinated and sustained public conservation campaign.” Baldacci announced he had named Maine Public Utilities Commission Chairman Kurt Adams to work on developing a regional effort.

According to Maine officials, about 40 percent of New England’s electricity supply is derived from natural gas.

Baldacci said a draft “Memorandum of Understanding for A New England Electricity and Natural Gas Conservation Initiative” was patterned after an agreement reached by the Midwest Governors Association and could “reduce our region’s demand of natural gas while helping to reduce the cost of natural gas by an estimated 13 percent over the next five years.”

The proposed memorandum declares that “conservation and energy efficiency are the only short-term options to ease the strain on heating fuel and electricity markets and are easily implemented at the state and regional levels.”

According to the proposal, heating oil prices are 45 percent higher than they were last year at this time and that last year they were about 25 percent higher than the year before.