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Average Residential
Heating Oil Prices Nebraska

Analysis

On March 14, 2011, the average residential heating oil price had increased 2 cents from the last report to $3.46 per gallon (see the table at the end of this report). The graph below shows the spread in prices from month to month and from this year compared to previous years. This week's average price was $1.03 (or 43 percent) higher than the price a year ago.

The other states surveyed in the Midwest Region had higher prices ranging from $3.51 to $3.66 per gallon resulting in a regional average of $3.61. States near in proximity to Nebraska, such as Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin had prices of $3.51, $3.60, and $3.58, respectively.

Since the last report, Nebraska's average wholesale price has decreased 4 cents to $3.23 per gallon while the average retail price has increased 2 cents to $3.46 per gallon. As a result, the rack-to-retail margin increased to 23 cents per gallon. Of the surveyed states in the region this week, Nebraska had the lowest average retail price but not the lowest average wholesale price.

For the week ending March 11, the Midwest heating oil inventory was at 1.4 million barrels. The total regional distillate inventory level was in the normal range for this time of year.

Notes: The annual report for the 2009-2010 winter season is available. An archive houses annual reports from previous years.

This symbol indicates a rule of thumb follows. A general rule of thumb: A dollar increase in the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price per barrel will result in a 2.5-cent increase in the price of heating oil per gallon. Likewise, a dollar decrease in the WTI crude oil price per barrel will result in a 2.5-cent decrease in the price of heating oil per gallon.

Heating Season

The Nebraska Energy Office has participated in the State Heating Oil and Propane Program for ten winter seasons. During the heating season (October to March), the staff contact companies each week who supply heating oil to Nebraska, collect Monday's retail price, and submit the data to the Energy Information Administration. The Energy Information Administration calculates the average price shown in the table below.

At times, Nebraska's average residential heating oil price has been the lowest price in the Midwest Region. The Energy Information Administration theorized that this was due to minimal transportation costs. Another reason would be the number of participating states. Since state participation in the program is voluntary, heating oil prices were not surveyed in each state in the Midwest Region. Kansas and Oklahoma might also have had low prices--possibly lower than Nebraska's because the two states are closer to heating oil sources.

Off Season

During the off season (April through September), the Nebraska Energy Office staff continue to contact the same suppliers who were contacted during the heating season. Staff contact suppliers once a month instead of once a week since the price of heating oil is usually not as volatile during the off season. The Nebraska Energy Office staff calculate the average price, shown in the table below, from the suppliers' retail prices on the first Monday of the month.

State Heating Oil and Propane Program

The Energy Information Administration, the independent statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy, conducts the State Heating Oil and Propane Program from October to March--the heating season--each year. The Energy Information Administration collects prices for the program each week from participating states and calculates a state average price, a regional average price, and a national average price which can be seen in the report Residential Heating Oil Prices by Region and State.

Midwest Region

For statistical purposes, the Energy Information Administration defines the Midwest region to include the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

Price Explanation

The prices represent average residential home heating charge prices for home delivery of No. 2 heating oil, excluding taxes and cash discounts.

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Nebraska's Average Residential Heating Oil Prices

2001/2002 – 2010/2011

Heating Season Off Season
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
2001/2002
First Monday $1.076 $0.916 $0.857 $0.825 $0.800 $0.819 $0.894 $0.908 $0.887 $0.889 $0.905 $0.982
Second Monday $1.038 $0.916 $0.824 $0.824 $0.802 $0.844
Third Monday $1.026 $0.874 $0.805 $0.798 $0.809 $0.865
Fourth Monday $0.971 $0.878 $0.799 $0.790 $0.808
Fifth Monday $0.940 $0.812
2002/2003
First Monday $1.073 $1.048 $1.036 $1.094 $1.162 $1.336 $1.074 $1.027 $1.023 $1.026 $1.051 $1.113
Second Monday $1.086 $1.025 $1.022 $1.084 $1.269 $1.339
Third Monday $1.090 $1.008 $1.017 $1.098 $1.277 $1.313
Fourth Monday $1.077 $1.039 $1.047 $1.113 $1.302
Fifth Monday $1.078
2003/2004
First Monday $1.109 $1.109 $1.088 $1.108 $1.171 $1.177 $1.205 $1.272 $1.292 $1.287 $1.381 $1.457
Second Monday $1.168 $1.105 $1.088 $1.126 $1.153 $1.193
Third Monday $1.161 $1.122 $1.101 $1.143 $1.154 $1.197
Fourth Monday $1.148 $1.114 $1.108 $1.168 $1.157
Fifth Monday $1.106
Heating Season Off Season
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
2004/2005
First Monday $1.621 $1.768 $1.629 $1.495 $1.557 $1.727 $1.900 $1.822 $1.792 $1.912 $1.892 $2.365
Second Monday $1.661 $1.710 $1.548 $1.496 $1.554 $1.773
Third Monday $1.736 $1.678 $1.546 $1.519 $1.571
Fourth Monday $1.788 $1.672 $1.531 $1.549 $1.649
Fifth Monday $1.688 $1.566
2005/2006
First Monday $2.608 $2.269 $2.014 $2.001 $2.067 $2.108 $2.174 $2.370 $2.494 $2.554 $2.894 $2.609
Second Monday $2.661 $2.181 $2.050 $2.034 $2.044 $2.092
Third Monday $2.686 $2.106 $2.048 $2.003 $2.033
Fourth Monday $2.804 $2.070 $2.012 $2.030 $2.061
Fifth Monday $2.515 $2.044
2006/2007
First Monday $2.128 $2.128 $2.221 $2.169 $2.079 $2.246 $2.478 $2.447 $2.418 $2.472 $2.586 $2.690
Second Monday $2.110 $2.209 $2.189 $2.117 $2.097 $2.293
Third Monday $2.118 $2.215 $2.204 $2.045 $2.108
Fourth Monday $2.138 $2.230 $2.190 $2.015 $2.181
Fifth Monday $2.138 $2.009
Heating Season Off Season
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
2007/2008
First Monday $2.932 $3.036 $3.005 $2.875 $3.242 $3.528 $3.728 $4.240 $4.247 $3.954 $3.664
Second Monday $2.694 $3.006 $3.008 $2.942 $2.957 $3.424
Third Monday $2.698 $3.011 $2.964 $2.904 $3.030 $3.552
Fourth Monday $2.720 $3.076 $2.954 $2.874 $3.177
Fifth Monday $2.780 $2.982
2008/2009
First Monday $3.497 $2.526 $2.225 $1.864 $1.827 $1.622 $1.779 $1.728 $2.050 $2.122 $2.220 $2.197
Second Monday $3.238 $2.515 $2.092 $1.917 $1.784 $1.577
Third Monday $3.036 $2.398 $1.993 $1.879 $1.702 $1.571
Fourth Monday $2.772 $2.265 $1.943 $1.850 $1.644
Fifth Monday $1.878
2009/2010
First Monday $2.151 $2.382 $2.400 $2.416 $2.359 $2.397 $2.619 $2.696 $2.435 $2.461 NA NA
Second Monday $2.190 $2.407 $2.366 $2.479 $2.331 $2.426
Third Monday $2.288 $2.404 $2.356 $2.455 $2.304 $2.458
Fourth Monday $2.359 $2.404 $2.372 $2.402 $2.366
Fifth Monday $2.399
Heating Season Off Season
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
2010/2011
First Monday $2.627 $2.625 $2.771 $2.865 $3.040 $3.435 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Second Monday $2.651 $2.720 $2.831 $2.892 $3.058 $3.457
Third Monday $2.668 $2.786 $2.829 $2.951 $3.099
Fourth Monday $2.640 $2.773 $2.862 $2.990 $3.304
Fifth Monday $2.773 $3.003

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Sources: State Heating Oil and Propane Survey and the Weekly Petroleum Status Report. Energy Information Administration, Washington, DC. Nebraska Energy Office, Lincoln, NE.

Note: NA=Not Available.

This report was updated on March 17, 2011.

Typically, there is one week between updates during the heating season

and one month between updates during the cooling season.