PORTLAND, Maine — Mainers are seeing some minor relief at the tank as residential heating oil prices dipped back below the $6 mark over the past week.
According to weekly survey data released Friday by the Maine Department of Energy Resources (DOER), the average statewide price for heating oil fell to $5.84 per gallon as of Nov. 9, down 17 cents from $6.01 the previous week.
While the drop offers a small break heading into colder weather, prices remain near historic highs. Heating oil set multiple records across the state in October, peaking at $6.05 per gallon—an 82% jump compared to the same time last year. Based on a standard 275-gallon residential tank, state officials estimate Maine homeowners are paying roughly $750 more for a full fill-up than they did a year ago.
Other heating and motor fuels also saw modest declines over the past week:
-
Kerosene: Dropped 24 cents to $6.77 per gallon, down from $7.01 the week prior and off its October peak of $7.06.
-
Propane: Edged down two cents to $3.64 per gallon.
-
Gasoline: Fell 14 cents per gallon over the last week to a statewide average of $4.06 on Friday, according to AAA.
Maine relies more heavily on heating oil per capita than any other state in the country. Roughly half of all Maine households still use fuel oil as their primary heat source, though that share has steadily dropped from 70% in 2010.
In September, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association projected that the average Maine household using heating oil will spend $2,939 to stay warm this winter. In an effort to boost regional supply and ease prices, the U.S. Department of Energy announced on Oct. 21 that it would release up to 315,000 barrels from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve.
Weekly price updates, along with the state’s Winter Heating Guide—which outlines financial assistance programs and home efficiency incentives—are available on the Maine Department of Energy Resources website.
