Off Topic- Fuel prices, cost to heat the home this winter...

[Marli]

Know this is off topic but it does effect all of us. Last winter we phoned the oil co., to lock in a price on heating oil (1.49 a gal) for the winter heating season. Figured I better get to it this year and I was just given the price to lock in this season at *2.15* a gal. Whoaaaa..... I do believe we'll be keeping the thermostat turned down and donning long johns and sweaters to help keep warm.

It was funny as the gal that took my inquiry was almost afraid to tell me - you could hear the anxiousness in her voice almost expecting me to begin to groan. We discussed the troubles the elderly and those on fixed incomes will have this winter and she went so far to say that even for those that qualify for fuel assistance, that there may not even be enough funds aside for all that will need (I'm in Central NY state, just above Binghamton).

Have any others here made this inquiry yet? Interested to read the prices across the country, especially those that reside in the colder climates.

[skeenan]

I haven't dared ask what the kerosene prices are yet... we have a Monitor heater that we moved to the basement, which runs at 55º or so, to keep it from freezing down there...

As we just cleared our pasture/riding ring area, our guesstimation is that we have about 6 years worth of wood... wood stoves are a pain sometimes, but I'll take the "free" part of it!

[susanh]

Just recieved my estimate for oil/ propane for next year at $6000. Argh!!! We switched our pool over to solar last year so our propane costs are minimal now- just the fireplace in winter and the hot water tank, so most of that is for oil. Have to call the company to talk about it this week- haven't told them yet that we are replacing our oil furnace with geothermal. Cost up front will more than pay itself back at this rate...Still shocking to see---$6000!!! Of course that is CDN but that's still almost $5000US these days. Now all I need is a wind turbine to hook up to my power source and I'll be all set. We're on the north side of lake Erie (can see it from my house) and it is almost always windy here...hmmm, have to give this some thought...township probably has some rule about it though...

[Gerry]

Its getting quite scary isnt it? I drove to Saratoga and back last night (4.5hrs each way) gas was $2.48 and coming home I paid $2.59!

Fortunately I no longer have an hour commute to work since I quit my day job to work 12 hour days here at the farm but that also means that I no longer have my employee discount on propane of 40cents/gallon and I didnt lock in my price before I quit. I was the credit manager of a local propane company and hated telling people (especially the elderly or those with small children) that they couldnt have another delivery until the previous delivery was paid for even though the cost tripled over the prior year.

Looks as though I am praying for a warm winter and using the wood stove ALOT.

[Georgerz]

Not such a worry in Florida.

[Thunder]

big price for Big Sky Country every year

[madelyn]

The brick ranch house I "inherited" when I bought the farm has a radiant heating system that was installed back, I guess, when they were quite revolutionary. Anyhow, it stays very warm on very little electric.

The new house we are building will combine geothermal and passive solar. Also we will have two outdoor wood furnaces, and electric supplement. Hopefully will stay around the $200 a month mark....

[Crystal]

Massachusetts just had a tax free weekend, I wonder if that applied to buying home heat oil? its about 2.15 now, up from about 1.99 2 weeks ago, and at the local Mobile, 2.61..

we go to the cheap Haffeners gas station, it's about 10 cents cheaper. Makes me think I want to stay home labor day.. but I have places to go, annoying family to entertain.