REMEMBER A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN OTTAWA UTILITIES DIRECTOR DENNIS THARP SAID THAT HIGHER NATURAL GAS PRICES WERE LEADING TO INCREASED ENERGY COST FOR ELECTRICITY. THOSE COSTS ARE GOING TO CARRY OVER INTO THE WINTER SEASON AND END UP COSTING YOU MORE FOR HEATING BILLS. TOP THAT WITH THE NEWS THAT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTING A 6% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DAYS HEATING IS NEEDED AND IT’S A GIVEN YOU’RE GOING TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON KEEPING WARM THIS WINTER.
ACCORDING TO THE ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION, NEARLY HALF OF HOUSES NATIONWIDE USE NATURAL GAS FOR HEAT, AND NATURAL GAS CUSTOMERS CAN EXPECT AN AVERAGE COST OF AT LEAST $300 FOR THE SEASON. ABOUT 40% OF HOUSES USE ELECTRIC HEATING, SO ELECTRICITY BILLS THIS WINTER COULD RISE MORE THAN $150. AMERICANS WHO USE PROPANE FOR HEAT WILL SEE A RISE IN PRICES OF $100 THIS WINTER. EXPERTS SAY HEATING A HOME WITH OIL, WHICH INCLUDES LESS THAN 5% OF HOMES NATIONWIDE, WILL BE THE MOST EXPENSIVE. COSTS ARE PROJECTED TO JUMP $1,500.
