AUGUSTA – Heating oil prices in Maine took a big dive during the past two weeks, falling 20 cents a gallon in the latest survey by the state energy office.

The biweekly summer survey found the average cash price throughout the state to be $4.42 a gallon. This follows a 9-cent decline in the previous survey.

Oil prices varied significantly among dealers, with a high of $4.60 a gallon found in central, eastern and western regions and a low of $3.80 in the southwestern part of the state.

Energy office director John Kerry says the price drop is due in large part to changes in behavior as Americans drive less in what he called a first step toward changing a fossil fuel-dependent culture.