The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), Division of Energy Planning and Conservation (DEPC), has conducted a program to monitor home heating oil prices and refined product inventory in the State of New Jersey on a continuing basis since 1979. Each year, 100 of the 550 fuel oil dealers are selected at random throughout the state to provide a representative sample. These dealers are surveyed for price and inventory information on a monthly basis.This report will:quantify the extent of

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... e escalation at the wholesale and retail levels, and discuss factors contributing to the price increase,evaluate the explanations and support offered by the major suppliers for the price increase,discuss the public concerns raised during this time,outline the conclusions of the preliminary investigation, andsuggest actions that can be taken by the state and federal governments to mitigate the effects of price escalations on consumers.