Heating bills expected to be 15% higher

[Winnscott]

Source: USA Today

October 7, 2008

Consumers will pay about 15% more — an extra $150 on average— to warm their homes this winter, with those that rely on heating oil hit even harder, the Energy Department said Tuesday.

The average household will spend $1,137 on heating from October to March, says the department's Energy Information Administration. The increase reflects higher oil and natural gas prices and a forecast for colder weather than last winter.

Projected monthly household outlays are $15 less than the government's forecast last month and $45 less than its August estimate — due to falling oil and natural gas prices.

"There's slowing economic growth, and based on that we're seeing lower demand and a further push downward on prices," says Jeff Pillon of the National Association of State Energy Officials.

More: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-10-07-heating-costs_N.htm

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-10-07-heating-costs_N.htm

---

Don't they say that consumer spending represents the most important component of the economy? How can the consumer feel encouraged to spend when prices go up?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Wait a minute!

Oil is going down. HO is going down. NG is going down. Where do they get this shit?

The electric companies are playing the same crap as well.

[depakid]

2. "Where do they get this shit?"

Partially from prices this time last year.

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. #2 heating is the same now..

...or higher than at last winter's high, with nowhere to go but up.

Gas, I understand, hasn't increased as much.

[OhioChick]

6. That's what I don't understand....

We "should" be paying less.

[trthnd4jstc]

4. Here is another place that Democratic Socialism could help.

Imagine if instead of Big Oil drilling and refining petroleum, our government did it, there would be no way that the price for heating oil would go up 15%. We need to get privateers out of the energy market, and place governmental industries in charge. End the tyranny of the rich over the rest of us.

[mchill]

5. The cost to fill my kerosene tank was up nearly $400 this year

I fill my 200 gallon tank every fall. My bill, yesterday, was $825.70 for enough fuel to get me through a Northern California Mountain Winter. Last year I paid around $450. This is for a 900 square foot home. Who cares that I might have saved $20 by waiting one more week to order the fuel......besides, I ran out of heat and the nights are getting chilly. The $400 more than last year is where I'm feeling the pinch.

[radfringe]

7. did this factor in the predictions

of a colder than normal winter for the Northeast?