by Oil executive Sam Livieri has issued a stern warning to Americans about the ability to heat their homes as winter approaches. Livieri said Tuesday that with a low supply of heating oil, the country could see a “perfect storm,” particularly in New England.
Livieri, president of Connecticut-based Apple Oil, agreed with “Fox & Friends” co-host Steve Doocy that the situation has become an emergency.
Northeastern states are reportedly already rationing heating oil as prices rise.
“There is no heating oil,” Livieri said Tuesday. “Our supplies are low and we have high prices.”
HEATING YOUR HOME WILL BE $166 MORE THIS WINTER. THIS IS WHY
Lucinda Tyler and Aaron Raymo sit outside their home with fuel containers they used to fill their home heating oil tank, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, in Jay, Maine. The couple shopped for the best prices and bought heating oil 5 gallons at a time all summer long whenever they had extra money.
(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
He called on federal and state leaders to take steps to increase supplies while the weather is still mild.
Livieri said prices are about 40% higher than in 2021 and are expected to skyrocket when demand peaks in the winter months.
Penquis CEO Kara Hay told Fox News skyrocketing prices coupled with general inflation have left Maine residents wondering if they’ll be able to keep their homes warm through the winter.
“We always hear from our struggling neighbors, friends and family about winter and how hard it is, but we haven’t heard concerns like we heard this year,” Hay said. “And what we’re hearing is ‘We don’t know how we’re going to do it.'”
Livieri said the high costs are “harmful,” particularly for the elderly and people on fixed incomes. A 275-gallon tank, he estimated, currently costs consumers more than $1,100 to fill.
“People are shocked [seeing their bills],” he said.
Livieri said he’s working to accommodate those who can’t afford to fill their entire tank at once.
“A lot of people want short refills,” he said, explaining that customers on fixed incomes have ordered small deliveries of oil to keep their homes warm until their next paycheck arrives.
Livieri touted his family business’s track record in supplying heat to New England, but noted that the supply situation is turning dire.
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“We don’t want anyone to be left without heat,” he said.
“In January, unless we replenish the supply, we are facing a cold month.”
