by: John Mariani / The Post-Standard
Published: Wednesday, October 13, 2010, 11:23 AM Updated: Wednesday, October 13, 2010, 1:48 PM
Syracuse, NY — A typical Upstate New York National Grid natural gas customer could pay about 4 percent more to heat his or her home this winter than last, company officials said Wednesday.
Melanie Littlejohn, the utility’s regional executive director, delivered the forecast at a news conference in Clay, where she and other officials also discussed ways the utility’s customers can save on heating bills.
“The current market conditions suggest the cost of winter heating bills for National Grid customers will remain fairly stable in Upstate New York with our customers experiencing only a slight increase in their bills,” Littlejohn said.
At the current projected market prices for gas and at the typical usage rate of 712 therms of gas between November and March, the average residential customer would pay $760 for gas over the five-month heating season, she said. That customer paid about $730 last year.
The projection assumes “normal” weather for the period, she said.
“In the end, market prices, a customer’s natural gas usage and weather will determine actual costs,” Littlejohn said.
The utility’s projections were somewhat rosier than those of the American Gas Association, which earlier this month predicted a 7 percent increase in household gas bills. The industry’s investment in production, pipe lines, storage and efficient gas usage should produce supplies that meet or exceed demand, association President David Parker said.
The Energy Information Administration, the independent statistical and analytical arm of the U.S. Department of Energy, is projecting a 7 percent increase in the cost of natural gas in the Northeast this winter compared with last. Tancred Lidderdale, EIA’s lead energy industry economist, said that’s in part because utilities buy a significant portion of their winter natural gas supply during the summer. This summer, he said, spot prices were 25 percent higher than summer 2009’s spot prices.
to read the full story, click here.
| Three Tips for Saving Money on Natural Gas Heating Bills |
____________________________________________
_________________________________________
Save your business EVEN MORE money AT NO COST to the company. Contact us today to request your company’s FREE Electricity Rate Analysis. Click here to request your FREE rates analysis. Our team will find the best rates for your companies’ energy needs. Have the professionals shop for your company, at no cost to your company!
If you have any questions, be sure to contact one of our a support services representatives at: 866-572-2274. If we are away, please leave a message and we will get back with you as soon as possible. We look forward to serving as your energy advocates!
