Stupid question re: oil and gas availability this winter?

[crispini]

Ok, I keep hearing that the price of "home heating oil" is expected to be high this winter. What is that, exactly? I have natural gas, but I'm not sure if that is the same thing or not. Will natural gas prices go up as well?

[MissB]

1. In some markets, yes, the price will go up.

We're in the Nortwest, which isn't as horribly affected as the east coast. We're still seeing a 12-15% increase.

I think part of the problem for the east coast was the way they store the natural gas. Iirc, the pipelines that head to the storage facilities were damaged, so there isn't as much stored yet as there normally is.

On edit: home heating oil is a different thing than gas. It's basically diesel fuel with some slightly different components.

[Tace]

2. Natural Gas Prices Are To As Much As Double Over Last Winter

From 60%-100% increase, depending on location. Good luck.

[NNadir]

3. Home heating oil is #2 diesel fuel, "natural gas" is piped in gas.

Gas prices will rise much higher and faster than home heating oil prices.

The message is the same as it should always have been: conserve.

[MercutioATC]

7. Incidentally, it can also be used in deisel cars...

It's not taxed the same way as automotive deisel (it's cheaper) and it doesn't have the same additives. It's also colored differently.

It's against the law (tax evasion, I suppose) to use home heating oil in your deisel car, but it WILL work.

[readmylips]

10. Yesterday heard smart man say Diesel same as home heating......

I was shopping and two gentlemen were having a conversation about oil prices. I stopped to listen since I've previously heard one of the gentleman talk on our local college campus on other subjects. I heard the college professor say that diesel fuel is the same as home heating oil. To confuse consumers and charge more, oil companies add a special die to diesel fuel. I was surprise but not really. They'll all a bunch of crooks.

[NNadir]

12. The dye is to prevent tax evasion.

Home heating oil does not pay road taxes.

[wrathofkahn]

4. Oil heating is generally more popular in the north...

Though it is used some in the south. The oil itself is about the consistency of diesel fuel, and the furnace burns it much like a kerosene heater.

Natural gas prices are not directly tied to heating oil prices, but they'll increase and decrease at about the same times and rates (of increase and decrease).

[crispini]

6. Ah HA, that's why I haven't heard of it.

Never having lived in the north. Thanks!

Yeah, I just went and looked at my gas company's website and they expect "approximately 60 to 90 percent higher than gas bills last winter."

http://www.investquest.com/iq/a/ato/ne/news/ato100505-tx.htm

I'm ordering a cord of wood for the wood stove! That should help.

[Arger68]

5. Heating oil is different than natural gas.

Both, however, are very expensive right now, and expected to get more expensive before winter is over. The following link shows current prices, but not historical prices. I think natural gas is more than double the price at this time last year.http://www.bloomberg.com/energy/

[Arger68]

8. Here is a link for natural gas prices over

the last 12 months.
http://www.wtrg.com/daily/gasprice.html

[crispini]

9. Thanks!

Jeez, guess I'd better go and look at last year's bills and see what I have in store.

[Arger68]

11. Yeah, not pretty. I'm good friends with a heating contractor.

His orders for new furnaces (as well as wood & wood pellet stoves) have gone through the roof. There WILL be deaths this winter from people not being able to pay their heat bills. :(