The cost of home heating oil in Maine inched up again last week to an average of $3.76 per gallon, according to the Governor’s Energy Office, which reports that current prices are 25 cents per gallon higher than at the same time last year.
This news comes a week after dismal predictions from the US Energy Information Administration. In its annual Short-term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook Analysis, EIA projects that average expenditures for US households that heat with heating oil will be higher than any previous winter on record, and nearly 20% higher than last winter. The record expenditures are predicted to be a result of increased oil prices and winter temperatures that could be 20% colder than last winter, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Given these predictions, the Governor’s Energy Office points homeowners toward Efficiency Maine and energy efficiency. “Our lack of control over pricing compels us to examine alternatives,” said Ken Fletcher, GEO Director, “including energy efficiency improvements, conservation, and heating fuel options.”
A FREE Energy Consult with Evergreen Home Performance can help you understand those alternatives, install energy efficiency upgrades that pay for themselves in comfort and savings, and qualify for Efficiency Maine’s Air Sealing Incentive Program. Available for a limited time, the $600 rebate is available to homeowners who invest in at least six hours of air sealing and insulation. Contact Evergreen at 594-2244 to learn more and to schedule your FREE energy consult.
