According to the nightly news earlier this week, they said the price jump is due to the blackout, gas pipeline break in the west, war with Iraq, and one more factor. I can't remember what it is. It is the combined effect of all of these together not just one. At least that is how they explained it on the news. Everything that could go wrong went wrong this year even if it was just temporarily like the blackout. Personally I don't know how true this is, but I guess it makes sense.