AUGUSTA – Maine’s Office of Energy Independence and Security survey of home heating oil prices this week found the current statewide average cash price for No. 2 heating oil to be $2.48 per gallon, an increase of 2 cents since Aug. 1.

That is $0.06 lower than last year at this time, the period immediately after hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast and drove oil and gas prices higher. The average statewide heating oil price for the 2005-06 heating season was $2.36. Within the OEIS sample, the lowest actual heating oil price of $2.20 per gallon was found in the southwestern region, while the high-end price of $2.63 per gallon was found in the central region. As of Aug. 25, New England heating oil inventories stood at 10,469 million barrels, 886 million barrels lower than last year at this time.

The statewide kerosene price average is $2.89 per gallon, an increase of $0.04 since Aug. 1. For propane, the survey found the statewide average to be $2.30 per gallon, which is down $0.13 since Aug. 1 and up $0.13 since last year at this time. This average price for propane represents the price per gallon for a 600- to 800-gallon domestic heating application. As of Aug. 25, U.S. inventories of propane stood at an estimated 63.3 million barrels. Propane imports have surged in the past two weeks, and East Coast propane inventories are tracking in the average range for this time of year.