As winter nears, the statewide average price for No. 2 heating oil jumps 10 cents a gallon over the past week.

The price of heating oil in Maine has jumped 10 cents in the past week.  The Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security says the average statewide price of No. 2 heating oil now stands at $2.48 a gallon. 

"Crude oil prices have been rising over the last two weeks as optimism in the equities markets and increasing tensions in Nigeria pulled markets upward against the tide of market fundamentals where above normal inventories and low demand continue to point toward lower prices," says OEIS Director John Kerry.  Kerry advises Mainers to weatherize their homes and plan a heating budget before winter arrives. 

Actual oil prices varied widely across the state, with the lowest price of $2.27 a gallon found in southwestern Maine and the highest, $2.70 a gallon, in eastern areas of the state.  The price of kerosene this week stands at $2.77 a gallon.