Heating oil up another seven cents.

[Shorebound]

I can't imagine how low-income folks in Maine are coping with this. Back in the 1970s there was a program that helped low-income homeowners insulate their houses and install energy-efficient windows and furnaces. Is there anything like that today?

BTW, a Bloomberg story on another forum says some traders are already betting on $200 oil by the end of the year. Not realistic, I think, with the economy softening, but I've been wrong before.

http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/020511.html

Heating oil up another 7 cents to $3.35

By The Associated Press
January 08, 2008 10:04 AM

AUGUSTA - Maine's heating oil prices have gone up another 7 cents per gallon.

The state energy office says the average cash price for home heating oil rose last week to $3.35 per gallon during the same period that crude oil prices topped $100 a barrel for the first time before receding.

Likewise, kerosene prices were up by 8 cents, to $3.75 per gallon. But propane was actually down by a penny a gallon, to $2.94.

The Maine Office of Energy Independence says heating oil has set a record for the third straight week in the state. It says heating oil and kerosene prices are $1.09 per gallon higher than at the same time last year.

[Angsty]

1. Don't forget, though...

200 2008 dollars may in fact end up only being worth 100 2007 dollars!

[MaineDem]

2. We're looking at our furniture

Anything we don't want will go into the woodstove.

Ok, an exaggeration but it might just come to that. $3.75 for kerosene is obscene.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

3. On the bright side...

in a zero sum economy, it's only obscene to some!

[luckyleftyme2]

4. its really effecting the elderly

I was in town hall the other day registering my vehicle and the conversation
of the day was heating oil and gas. One elderly gentleman said he had to put the thermostat on 62 and only use his vehicle when he couldn't catch a ride or walk.
I think this country has to move quickly to solve our energy problems.

[quispquake]

5. It's obscene...

I'm SO GLAD we decided to move towards wood this year (installed a wood stove in October). We have to use K1 because our oil tank is outside, which is just ridiculous right now. I truly wonder what this state is going to look like after a few years of this...between the energy prices, taxes, lack of good paying jobs, and the housing market, it's getting IMPOSSIBLE for many folks born and bred here to continue on...

BTW: if you are low income, check out www.citizensenergy.com. That's where if you're low income, Chavez & Joe Kennedy will give you 100 free gallons of oil. I know a LOT of people who have done this (you can qualify even if you're mid-income and have a lot of kids...I know 100 gallons isn't a lot, but every bit helps (and keeping the thermostat down does help...Jimmy Carter caught a lot of flack for telling people to keep the thermostats lower and to wear a sweater, but he was right!!!).

[fight4my3sons]

6. We just got our voucher from citizens energy.

To us 100 gallons is a lot. We are about to run out of oil - literally. We don't even have our heat turned on right now, but we do have a wood stove (moved it up from the basement to the living room). When we do have our heat on we set it to 60.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

7. self delete

[crim son]

8. We keep our heat at 60 on the main floor, and off altogether upstairs.

Right now I'm wearing my winter coat and a hat as I type. It's eleven degrees outside and is supposed to go down to a couple degrees below zero. It's rather depressing.

[luckyleftyme2]

9. looking into adding a wood pellet stove

I have been looking into buying a wood pellet stove. thinking about putting it in cellar. some advantages are no kindling,no lugging in the wood from outside and an alternative heat source if we lose power.
having been raised in rural maine,helping cut pile and split 7-10 cord of wood for heat;lugging water I prefer the easy way in later life.
the fuel is cheaper than oil and the fan can be run by battery if you lose power.
one thing seems to be true,oil will be to expensive for many. so if this works out
I could use the oil for back up.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

10. but....but.......but

that oil is brought to you by commie/socialist/dictators like Baldacci, Kennedy and Venezuelan President Hugo"CITGO"Chavez. Surely you've not forgotten that Chavez called President Bush the Devil, a devil reeking of sulfur as he exploits and pillages the peoples of the world!
If you don't know that it's far better for you and your loved ones to freeze to death in the dark than burn tainted oil you haven't been paying attention to what the "good" folks,your neighbors and mine, that keep Maine Hate Media alive and well are saying!

[crim son]

11. My thoughts about Chavez:

He's batshit crazy but he's got the right idea about the shrub, and if he wants to improve his image by sending us cheap oil, more power to him. Hail Chavez.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

12. Degree of batshit crazy.

I have to say I doubt he's quite as batshit crazy as one much closer to us, wink, wink, and giving credit where it's due, I agree with you that he's spot on right about the shrub!
As for his oil, I'd certainly have no qualms about taking it.

[fight4my3sons]

13. My thoughts too.

And when it comes down to it, my husband works two jobs. I have two kids at home still and one in Kindergarten. I babysit for extra money. In 20 months when my twins are old enough to go to school I will gladly work full time! We can't afford daycare. We are doing all we can to survive. I am grateful for Chavez and his oil. Thank God for them, HEAP turned us down because my husband worked a seasonal job at Bean's and we were $400 over income. It is 12 degrees out right now, this morning it was 4.

[luckyleftyme2]

14. ah yes -good try

seems you haven't really done your home work; I happen to agree with joe kennedy
get the oil as cheap as you can. the people who need it don't care where it comes from only they get it. now wink wink tell them why chavez is on dubyas chit list.
could it be he didn't want to deal with the black gold mafia. wink wink 3rd grade
at best wink wink!

ah ah boy its stuffy in here,could their be a ramrod or is that a head stuck where the sun don't shine!