A new study shows the costs of heating and cooling your home or fueling your car are high.

Maine’s energy costs ranks as the sixth-most expensive among the states and the District of Columbia, according to an analysis published last week by financial website WalletHub.

The study compared average monthly residential bills in each state for electricity, natural gas and heating oil, along with the amounts spent on gasoline. Data was taken from census reports, a variety of other federal government agencies and sources such as AAA.

The energy expenditures averaged $370 per month in Maine, a dollar less than the total in Alabama, which was No. 5 in the U.S. The No. 1 state was Connecticut, where the costs averaged $411 per month. The rest of the top five consisted of Wyoming, No. 2 at $403; Massachusetts, No. 3 at $380; and Georgia, No. 4 at $374.

In Maine, the high cost of energy was driven primarily by the price of heating oil, which ranked No. 1 in the country and averaged $92 a month, according to WalletHub. The next-highest cost for heating oil was in New Hampshire, averaging $82 monthly.

In Maine, the spot cash price for heating oil currently averages $2.58 per gallon, according to the Governor’s Energy Office.

Other New England states also placed high in WalletHub’s overall ranking of energy costs. New Hampshire was No. 10, with a cost of $355; Rhode Island, No. 11, $347; and Vermont, No. 14, $338.

The least expensive spot for energy costs was Washington, D.C., ranking No. 51 with a monthly cost of $217. The state of Washington was No. 50, with expenses averaging $262.

For more information and the complete WalletHub results, click here.


Megan Diver

Megan has worked in Maine politics for more than ten years and all of her professional career, having served in many roles for elected officials (including former Secretary of State Charlie Summers), in-house with the Maine Association of REALTORS®, legislative specialist at Pierce Atwood LLP providing lobbying services and support to Pierce Atwood’s government relations clients and most recently senior government relations specialist at the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. Megan currently is the Vice President at the Maine Energy Marketers Association, utilizing her vast knowledge and legislative experience at the State House to represent MEMA on policies relating to the Association and its members.