Connecticut families are feeling the pinch as diesel and heating‑oil prices surge above $6 a gallon. The Trump administration has highlighted a temporary waiver of the Jones Act – the law that requires vessels moving goods between U.S. ports to be American‑built, owned and operated – as a key step toward easing those costs.
Administration’s rationale
Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters in August that allowing foreign‑flagged tankers to transport petroleum between U.S. ports has kept energy prices on the East Coast “lower than they would otherwise be.” The administration argues that the waiver helps keep supply flowing into New England during a tight market.
What the numbers actually show
The Cato Institute, which favors a full repeal of the Jones Act, counted 997,000 barrels of petroleum moved into New England under the waiver over a 115‑day period – roughly 8,700 barrels per day. That volume represents about 1.2% of the region’s normal daily consumption of 700,000 barrels.
New England’s six states used about 259.4 million barrels of petroleum in 2024, and Connecticut alone consumed roughly 17 million barrels of diesel, more than half of which fuels home heating oil. In comparison, the waiver’s contribution is a drop in the bucket.
Limited price impact
Previous analysis from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) estimated that eliminating the Jones Act would shave less than two cents per gallon off average East‑Coast diesel prices. Applying the NBER’s New England figure to Connecticut translates to a reduction of roughly half a cent per gallon for diesel and an even smaller effect on gasoline – about two‑hundredths of a cent nationwide.
In practical terms, the waiver’s effect on a Connecticut household’s winter heating bill is negligible. With distillate stocks at a record low of 2.5 million barrels in late September – just two weeks of normal supply – the state faces a stark contrast to the 12.6 million barrels stored in 2020.
Broader market forces at work
Freight costs are only one component of the final pump price. Crude‑oil prices, refinery margins and global demand drive the bulk of the price swing. In the second quarter of 2026, major refiners such as Valero and Phillips 66 reported earnings of $3.7 billion and $3.8 billion respectively, underscoring the windfall profits that flow from high fuel margins.
Connecticut purchases fuel on the world market, meaning that refinery outages, international diesel demand and crude‑oil price volatility have far greater influence than the temporary shipping waiver.
Administration’s response
When asked about the modest impact, the White House reiterated that the waiver is part of a broader strategy that includes encouraging refiners to limit exports, expanding the use of tax‑exempt dyed diesel and working with European allies to release emergency diesel stocks. Officials stress that the waiver is a “temporary relief measure” while longer‑term solutions are pursued.
What Connecticut families should watch
If current diesel prices hold, a typical household that relies on heating oil could see an additional $1,700 in winter heating costs. Residents are encouraged to monitor local fuel‑price trends, explore energy‑efficiency upgrades and stay informed about any further federal actions that may affect supply.
While the Jones Act waiver demonstrates the Trump administration’s willingness to use every tool at its disposal, the data suggest it is not the decisive factor Connecticut needs to bring diesel prices down to affordable levels.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
