In East Hartford, fire officials urged residents to lower their thermostats to conserve fuel after a main supplier, Motiva Enterprises LLC, said it expects to run out of oil by mid-week. Several residents in two town trailer parks went without heat for two days when their fuel wasn't resupplied in time. With supply decreasing, home heating oil prices have responded by rising dramatically. Truckers are also feeling the pinch because of sharp increases in the costs of diesel fuel. Even kerosene users were seeing steep price increases.
People are shocked.
Clinton said he was releasing the emergency funds after being inundated with pleas for help from state officials. Cold Weather, Low Supplies Blamed Industry analysts say the sudden price increases have been caused by several factors, including the recent cold snap, OPEC's decision to extend existing production cuts past an original March deadline, and low petroleum supplies. He said, however, that he plans to meet with oil ministers from Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela and other countries in coming weeks to discuss oil prices and yearlong production curbs by OPEC producers. During the past year, as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has reduced production, prices of oil and gas have skyrocketed. Last winter was warmer than normal, and heating oil prices remained stable and in some cases, dropped slightly during the season.