Published: October 28, 2008 06:02 pm            

Home heating costs expected to go higher

The cost of heating a home this winter is expected to be higher than at any time in recent memory, and with the national economy slowly slipping into recession, many are trying to prepare for the expected higher energy costs.

Many southern West Virginians have tightened their homes through energy audits, and others have started using alternative heating methods, but the reality is that prices for oil, wood, wood pellets, kerosene, coal and natural gas all have gone up.

“We use natural gas to heat our home and I know our bill is supposed to go way up,” said Buford Miller of Hubbard Street in Sprague.

Miller says Mountaineer Gas is the company that supplies natural gas to his home. Prices for natural gas, still by far the most widely used heating source in West Virginia, are increasing this year dramatically.

“Those in southern West Virginia served by Mountaineer Gas should see an approximate increase of 33 percent in rates,” said Byron Harris, director of the state PSC’s Consumer Advocate Division. “That was in the state PSC’s administrative law judge’s order Oct. 10.”

West Virginia natural gas customers could see their heating bills rise as much as 38 percent this winter.

According to a previously published report, Melissa Marland, the PSC’s administrative law judge, recommended that 13 of the state’s gas companies receive rate increases, according to orders filed with the PSC. Decreases were recommended for three smaller companies.

However, the Consumer Advocate Division plans to challenge the recommendations.

“We filed with the PSC to hold the line at a 20 percent increase, which is still significant,” Harris said Thursday. “We want to help consumers, but many think 20 percent is too high. But we believe it’s a good compromise.”

Harris says there is no use to look at today’s market prices for natural gas because many companies purchased the gas for storage in the summer.

“Prices are much lower today,” Harris said. “However, the gas was purchased this summer. In July, prices were in excess of $13 per million British thermal units. Now, natural gas rates are trading at around $7 per million BTU.”

In light of the current economic uncertainty, and in anticipation of increased fuel costs, the state PSC recently launched a new section on its Web site titled “A Consumer’s Guide to Lower Heating Bills.”

The site, www.psc.state.wv.us/ Energy_Assist/default.htm, lists numerous free and low-cost steps consumers can take to help them minimize their heating bills this winter.

Visitors to the site will also find an explanation of the charges on a typical gas utility bill, a link to a home energy audit and various public and private resources for possible payment assistance for gas and electric utility bills.

Harris said there is also a new nonprofit program to help low-income families with their energy bills.

“You can go online at dollarenergy.org and click the link ‘need help’ to see if you qualify,” he said.

The state Department of Health and Human Resources also offers energy assistance to low-income families and senior citizens.

LIEAP will officially open for general intake on Dec. 1 and close at the end of the day Dec. 12, according to the state DHHR’s Web site.

Applications may be obtained at local DHHR offices, Community Action agencies or senior centers operated by an Area Agency on Aging. The online application will also be available on the DHHR Web site at www.wvinroads.org.

— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com

        

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