Mainers face higher prices for heating oil~They target us everytime. Worse in northern Maine!

Boston.com ^ | 5 January 2003

[SheLion]

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) Heating oil prices in Maine have climbed to a statewide average of $1.32 a gallon amid strikes by Venezuelan oil workers and the looming threat of war with Iraq.

The average price as December drew to a close represents an increase of 11 cents since the beginning of the month and was 21 cents higher than in the same period last year, the Maine State Planning Office said.

[SheLion]

In northern Maine, Aroostook County, gas and heating oil is up $1.63 a gallon. Yet this is never reported on the news.

[SheLion]

If your living in southern Maine, don't feel so bad. It's outrageous up here! Went up 12 cents in a matter of days.

The highest in California last reported was $1.54 a gallon. They sure know who to hit. We pretty much depend on oil for heating up here, along with wood. We have no pipe line for gas.

[Rodney King]

If in fact "they" are "knowing who to hit" and prices are higher than the market price, then you have a great opportunity.

Start a home heating oil supply company.

By selling at whatever the "fair" price is, you should make a fortune and "they" will be driven out of business.

[SheLion]

By selling at whatever the "fair" price is, you should make a fortune and "they" will be driven out of business.

Good idea, but it would probably take a small fortune to start up something like that. Irving Oil has things pretty well locked in up here.

One guy from this area wrote the following on another board:

"Because the oil dealerships in the greater Caribou/Presque Isle area are run by a bunch of thieves. They are all lining their pockets with our money. They have us over a barrel and they know it. The small local dealers have no choice but to play along with the big boys. If the small dealers try to lower their prices they will be forced out of business by companies like Dead River, DOC and yes, Mr.Irving. What the are doing is against the law, but they know how to play the game and not get caught."

[SheLion]

I'd love for all Freepers across the U.S. to read this. Get the word out about what is happening to us in northern Maine.

[crz]

I burn coal and wood! End of them holding me hostage for my heat.

[crz]

BTW...coal is at around 100 bucks a ton..and I burn 21/2 tons a year and I keep it warm in here..about 70 to 75.

[MamaLucci]

My mother is from Mapleton and has siblings who still live there,
as well as in Presque Isle.
Mom is a midwestern conservative Republican, her siblings are all democrats.

[SheLion]

I burn coal and wood! End of them holding me hostage for my heat.

Our heating consists of wood furnace and oil furnace. The oil is a back-up for the wood furnace. We buy an average of 8 cords of wood each summer, running around $95 per cord. Then, the oil, which heats the house and the hot water.

When we first moved up here in 1983, a cord of wood was $65-$70 dollars.

[SheLion]

Mom is a midwestern conservative Republican, her siblings are all democrats.

Hi MamaLucci! Well, too bad the siblings turned to the other side. Pity.

[El Gato]

The strike in Venuzeula is the main reason for the run up in heating oil prices. Much of that oil would have gone to the northeast US, which depends more on oil for heating than other parts of the country, which tend to us US (or Canadian) produced natural gas. Since the supplier up there suddenly found their normal supplier, and contracted supplies, cut off, they had to buy on the spot market, which itself tends to swing more rapidly in price. So if you must blame someone, blame Hugo Chavez and those sriking against him.

[Cagey]

Get the word out about what is happening to us in northern Maine.

Yea, but you make up for it on the other end with low electric bills because your air conditioning turns on only three or four days a year. And, you can get your lobster at a good price too. It all works out.

[bogeybob]

I pay $120 a month with no A/C on here in Maine. Maine has the highest electricity rates in the nation. Maine is a very expensive place to live.

[ozone1]

Maybe I'll wait a week before I shovel a path to the oil tank.

[Calvin Locke]

Start a home heating oil supply company.

Hmmm, one of the Kennedy's did that. To low income people. A cousin took the helm, and was paying himself $400K/yr before he
ran in to a tree. A double benefit. One less statutory rapist skiing around, and it left a vacancy that
paid more than being a US Representative, so one less Kennedy in national politics, er, I mean "Public Service".

[Calvin Locke]

Maine is a very expensive place to live.

Not if you're a Somali...

[Cagey]

According to Maryland Energy, Maine is up there but there are a handful of states where people do pay more per Kw/h. I guess it's a good thing taxes are low in NH.

Electric Rates by State  
(Cents per kWh)

State Average Price

New Hampshire 11.32

New York 10.92

Rhode Island 10.24

Connecticut 10.18

New Jersey 10.06

Massachusetts 10.00

California 9.78

Maine 9.63

Vermont 9.13

Pennsylvania 7.87

District of Columbia 7.12

Maryland 7.03

[SheLion]

So if you must blame someone, blame Hugo Chavez and those sriking against him.

Ok, so why are people in Bangor (3.5 hour driving distance south of us), laughing at us because they are paying $1.37 a gallon and we are paying $1.63??)

[SheLion]

Yea, but you make up for it on the other end with low electric bills because your air conditioning turns on only three or four days a year. And, you can get your lobster at a good price too. It all works out.

Sorry, no air conditioning here. Just in our vehicles. And we don't eat lobster. Go figure.

[SheLion]

I pay $120 a month with no A/C on here in Maine. Maine has the highest electricity rates in the nation. Maine is a very expensive place to live.

bogeybob! At least electricity holds steady throughout the state. Maine IS very expensive. Except when it comes to pay checks! Then they pay us less then the average because of where we live.