Average Residential
Heating Oil Prices in Nebraska

Analysis

As of July 4, 2005, the average residential heating oil price leaped 12 cents from last month to $1.91 per gallon (see the table at the end of this report).  The price was 63 cents (or 49 percent) higher than the price at this time last year.  The graph below shows the spread in prices from month to month and from this year compared to previous years.  For the week ending June 24, the Midwest distillate inventory level was in the normal range for this time of year at 7.7 million barrels.

Notes:  The annual report for the 2004-2005 winter season is available.  The archive houses annual reports from previous years.

Heating Season

The Nebraska Energy Office has participated in the State Heating Oil and Propane Program for four years.  During the heating season (October to March), the staff contact 15 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.

In the Midwest region, Nebraska's average residential heating oil price was the lowest price each week during the last four heating seasons.  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 - 2004/2005

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Nebraska's Average Residential Heating Oil Prices
2001/2002 - 2004/2005

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

Note:  NA = Not Available

This report was updated on July 6, 2005.
Typically, there is one week between updates during the heating season and
one month between updates during the cooling season.

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