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Worries high about keeping on the heat

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By Paul Glasser
November 3, 2009

Sloan Griggs plans to insulate the basement of his East Frankfort home. Ruth Soto worries about paying her bill because she’s unemployed. Jeff Wolfe wants out of a contract.

Although the price of natural gas is expected to be almost 40 percent lower this winter, many are still concerned about keeping their homes heated.

 Among them are Soto, Griggs and Wolfe, all of Frankfort, who were interviewed Monday as they shopped at the east side Kroger.

Griggs, 25, said he’s still concerned about what his heating bill will be this winter. Last year, he paid about $200 or $250 per month and kept the thermostat at 72 degrees.

Griggs said he plans to insulate his basement so he’ll use less gas.

Although prices will drop, Soto, 28, said she doesn’t know how she’ll pay the bills because she doesn’t have a job. She worked at Montaplast last year and paid about $400 a month to heat her home.

“I’m worried,” Soto said. “I don’t have any money this year.”

Wolfe, 62, says he’s worried about the contract he signed last year to buy gas at $8 per cubic foot plus a delivery charge. This winter, wholesale prices will drop to below $6 per cubic foot, according to the Public Service Commission.

Wolfe said he’ll try and get out of the contract, but could be assessed a termination fee.

“It’s not a good a deal as I thought it would be,” Wolfe said. He also wants new energy-efficient windows to cut his bill. He paid about $300 or $400 per month to heat his home last year.

Wolfe said he sets the thermostat at about 68 degrees and is recently retired from AT&T.

According to PSC chairman David Armstrong, there is plenty of gas stored for the winter, meaning there will be lower and stable prices.

The high prices last winter were not caused by a shortage, but by speculative investing in natural gas commodities, Armstrong said.

Armstrong said he still urges homeowners to reduce usage through conservation, energy audits and weatherization.

For residents who are struggling to pay their bills, help is available from programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Consumers to check to see if they qualify by visiting http://chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/dfs/LIHEAP.htm

 




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 2 Total Comments
2.
    Posted by webby November 3, 2009
A high utility bill doesn't necessarily mean the house is big. Older homes with less insulation and single pane windows can mean huge bills. My former house was about 50 years old, one level, about 1600 sq ft and the gas bill in Jan-Feb would run about $300 and that was keeping the thermostat on 68 and 2 spare rooms closed off.

1.
    Posted by paperclip November 3, 2009
Seriously? How big are these houses? I admit that I keep my house cool in the winter - about 66 degrees. On the budget plan, though, my current budget payment is only $47.

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