For Immediate Release

Contact: Beth Nagusky

May 25, 2004 287-4315

Maine Gasoline Prices Are High

Augusta ---Last week Maine 's Office of Energy Independence and Security began to track gasoline prices throughout the State of Maine . We will release this data weekly, as we do for home heating oil prices during the winter months. The data provided in these surveys is based on the statewide average prices from the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report of retail gasoline prices for three grades of gasoline and diesel, unless otherwise noted.

Statewide Average Gasoline Prices

The current statewide average price for regular gasoline is $2.10 per gallon. High gasoline prices reflect the high price of crude oil, which is currently selling for $41.95 per barrel. High crude oil prices have been attributed to a number of factors, including: increasing global oil demand, a weak U.S. dollar, OPEC production behaviors, uncertainty in the Middle-East, political turmoil in Venezuela , and tight U.S. refining capacity.

The best defense against high gasoline prices is to reduce gasoline consumption. Consumers can reduce consumption by twenty to thirty percent through a number of fairly simple steps: maintain properly inflated tires; obey the speed limit, keep your engine well-tuned and your oil changed;

avoid sudden stops and starts, limit engine idling; remove excess weight from your vehicle; and combine errands to avoid the number of “cold starts.” For short trips, consider walking, biking or taking public transportation, if available. If you are in the market for a new vehicle, consider its fuel economy. Depending on the vehicle you drive, you could be paying as little as $.04 per mile or as much as $.21.

Maine State Government has reduced miles traveled by state employees by 18% since fiscal year 2001, and the annual cost for reimbursement of travel expenses to State employees has been reduced by over $1 million, largely in response to Governor Baldacci's call for decreased travel.

As of May 25, 2004