AUGUSTA (AP) – As the temperatures remained in the deep freeze, heating oil prices in Maine continued their climb upward, state energy officials said Monday.

Since last week, average prices for No. 2 home heating oil have risen by 4 cents a gallon to $1.55, a 15 cent increase from the same time last year, the State Planning Office said.

Kerosene prices have increased even more, by 7 cents a gallon since last week to an average of $1.81, an 18 cent increase from last year.

The planning office also found in its weekly survey a 20 cent-per-gallon disparity between high and low prices across the state. In the central Maine area, the lowest heating oil price of $1.44 per gallon was found this week; the highest price – $1.64 per gallon – was noted in the eastern region.

While the United States is importing more oil this year, commercial crude oil inventories are 10 million barrels less than last year at this time and are at their lowest point in 28 years, the planning office said.

Monday’s report came out as temperatures in Maine remained in the frigid zone, with overnight lows expected to dip to minus 20 or lower in much of the state, and minus 10 in far southern areas, the National Weather Service said.

But the temperatures are expected to gradually rise toward midweek, with highs headed into the 20s, forecasters said.

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