Whose windfall?

A million years ago when there was an election on, there was some speculation that Sarah Palin might put Maine's 2nd congressional district into play, what with her moose-huntin', snowmobile-drivin', Carhartt-wearin' ways. (She didn't.) Over at The Plank, I argued that fuel prices were much more on voters' minds than the backwoods trappings of the VP candidate, and someone countered that oil prices were dropping and becoming less of a concern. Well, yes and no.

One of the few sunny sides to the economic downturn is the fall in oil prices, which we're seeing at the pump. Heating oil is also falling quite precipitously. Since there's belt-tightening to be done, at least we won't have to worry about expensive heat this winter, right? Sadly, no.

Prudent people in Maine (as well, I would assume, in other states with similar climates) lock in their oil prices early, like the people in this article. Because winter usually drives up demand, prices rise, and people who lock in early save money.

Winslow resident Kathy White is among the many unlucky homeowners who locked in early. White pre-purchased 600 gallons from O'Brien Oil Co. in July, at a price of $4.49.

[snip]

"They were predicting it going to $5 or $6," she said. "So I said, 'I better lock in.' I'll think twice next year."

This usually serves buyers well. This year, it hurt, and it's a bad year to be hurting. Contracts, sadly, are not negotiable. From the same article:

"They can't lower it, unless they want to lose money," Py said. "The dealers weren't making up the prices."

(This was also what a local priest was told when he called to inquire about trying to lower heating costs for a local church, which locked in this summer.)

So, here's my question. Someone is making out very well from all of this, because people are stuck paying well over the market price. Apparently it's not the local dealers. So who is it? How far up the oil supply line does one have to go to see the jump in profits?

I know that the idea of a windfall tax gives some people an itchy rash, but isn't this a situation where it might be justified, particularly if the tax could be used to subsidize home heating costs in states where people are hardest hit? (Or, if you prefer, subsidizing conversion to other home heating alternatives, like high-efficiency wood or pellets?) Where are the profits being made, and who has authority to tax those entities that are making out well, the states or the feds?

If only someone, somewhere could answer my questions.