Average Residential
Propane Prices in Nebraska


Analysis | Heating Season | Off Season
State Heating Oil and Propane Program | Midwest Region | Price Explanation
Graph | Prices | Price Archive | Wholesale Prices
Annual Report | Annual Report Archive
Midseason Report

Analysis

On November 6, 2006, the average residential propane price had relatively no change from last week at $1.40 per gallon (see the table at the end of this report).  The graph below this text shows the spread in prices from month to month and from this year compared to previous years.  This week's average price was nine cents (or six percent) lower than the price at this time last year.

Other states in the Midwest Region had higher prices ranging from $1.46 to $1.98 with the region averaging $1.74 per gallon.  States adjacent to Nebraska, such as South Dakota, Iowa, and Missouri, had prices of $1.47, $1.49, and $1.62, respectively.

While wholesale prices had fallen nearly four cents this week and the rack-to-retail margin increased to 43 cents, Nebraska retail prices continue to be the lowest of the surveyed states in the region.  (Nebraska does not have the lowest wholesale prices of the surveyed states in the region.)

On the supply side, the Midwest Region inventory level was in the normal range for this time of year with 24.6 million barrels in storage on November 3.

Notes:  The annual report for the 2005-2006 winter season is available.  An archive houses annual reports from previous years.

Heating Season

The Nebraska Energy Office has participated in the State Heating Oil and Propane Program for six years.  During the heating season (October to March), the staff contact companies each week who supply propane 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.

In the Midwest Region, Nebraska's average residential propane price was the lowest price each week during the last five heating seasons.  The Energy Information Administration theorized that this was due to minimal transportation costs since Nebraska's wholesale prices were not the lowest in the region each week.  Another reason would be the number of participating states.  Since state participation in the program is voluntary, propane 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 production, refinery, and storage areas.

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 propane 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 Propane 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 home heating charge prices for delivery of consumer grade propane, excluding taxes and cash discounts.

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Nebraska's Average Residential Propane Prices
2001/2002 - 2006/2007


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Nebraska's Average Residential Propane Prices
2001/2002 - 2006/2007

  Heating Season Off Season
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
2001/2002
First Monday $0.815 $0.771 $0.768 $0.769 $0.773 $0.736 $0.736 $0.733 $0.720 $0.708 $0.693 $0.714
Second Monday $0.797 $0.772 $0.777 $0.770 $0.735 $0.739            
Third Monday $0.798 $0.779 $0.773 $0.770 $0.735 $0.734            
Fourth Monday $0.786 $0.770 $0.773 $0.773 $0.734              
Fifth Monday $0.774   $0.769                  
2002/2003
First Monday $0.721 $0.743 $0.744 $0.806 $0.901 $1.181 $0.886 $0.849 $0.845 $0.882 $0.899 $0.934
Second Monday

$0.734

$0.743 $0.747 $0.806 $0.973 $0.975            
Third Monday $0.736 $0.743 $0.784 $0.843 $0.943 $0.966            
Fourth Monday $0.739 $0.743 $0.793 $0.855 $0.948              
Fifth Monday     $0.799                  
2003/2004
First Monday $0.925 $0.964 $0.945 $0.959 $0.990 $0.984 $0.981 $0.971 $0.982 $0.974 $1.038 $1.143
Second Monday

$0.960

$0.955 $0.942 $1.027 $1.011 $0.983            
Third Monday $0.966 $0.952 $0.957 $1.008 $0.993 $0.984            
Fourth Monday $0.968 $0.952 $0.956 $1.006 $0.992              
Fifth Monday     $0.959                  
2004/2005
First Monday $1.158 $1.290 $1.265 $1.237 $1.220 $1.194 $1.220 $1.209 $1.202 $1.225 $1.232 $1.415
Second Monday

$1.195

$1.297 $1.248 $1.236 $1.196 $1.218            
Third Monday $1.227 $1.290 $1.251 $1.228 $1.190              
Fourth Monday $1.312 $1.278 $1.251 $1.228 $1.194              
Fifth Monday   $1.288   $1.224                
2005/2006
First Monday $1.475 $1.490 $1.440 $1.524 $1.437 $1.414 $1.361 $1.403 $1.417 $1.446 $1.514 $1.490
Second Monday $1.469 $1.468 $1.455 $1.498 $1.438 $1.417            
Third Monday $1.474 $1.460 $1.508 $1.461 $1.422              
Fourth Monday $1.479 $1.458 $1.527 $1.460 $1.421              
Fifth Monday $1.493     $1.443                
2006/2007
First Monday $1.418 $1.399 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Second Monday $1.418 NA NA NA NA NA            
Third Monday $1.406 NA NA NA NA              
Fourth Monday $1.401 NA NA NA NA              
Fifth Monday $1.398     NA                

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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 November 9, 2006.
Typically, there is one week between updates during the heating season and
one month between updates during the cooling season.

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