PG&E Predicts 23% Rise In Heating Costs This Month

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Natural gas bills may hit $100

PG&E PREDICTS 23% RISE IN HEATING COSTS THIS MONTH

By Matthai Chakko Kuruvila, Mercury News

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/gas_prices/13772429.htm

PG&E predicts the average home heating bill will top $100 this month, making it the priciest February for natural gas since the energy crisis five years ago.

Natural gas costs are expected to jump 23 percent this month compared with last year, Pacific Gas & Electric said Wednesday. Despite the pain, it's a far cry from the jumps of 71 and 50 percent the company projected for October and November.

Natural gas costs have been spiking nationwide. The devastating Gulf Coast hurricanes last fall hurt production, and utilities have paid top dollar to satisfy growing demand amid a limited domestic supply.

Residents have adjusted to the high cost of hot water and warm homes. They cut back their natural gas use by an average of 12.5 percent this winter, according to weather-adjusted utility estimates.

[Zinfandel]

1. They lie and have us where we can't do shit about it! But pay!

The Republican Congress sure as fuck won't do anything, the hand that feeds their donations...We are fucked...Money always seems to win out...Bush & the republicans knows it...Its what they depend on, there's always plenty of people willing to lie and sell out the poor and middle class for some bucks...if not for money...there would be justice...

I'm really just ready to give up, can't see how it can be changed.

[tech3149]

2. No Shit Sherlock!!!!!!!!!!

Two years ago I paid twice that for a garage apartment that I rent. That was only on the coldest months of the year Since then the rate almost doubled. I'm happy to hold down my heating cost by turning down the thermostat and wear layered clothing rather than feeding the vampires of the energy industry.

[sandnsea]

4. A converted garage?

I'm not trying to be rude or insulting, I'm just interested. I read that a few years ago, that people in Cali were converting garages into rentals. Would you mind terribly telling me if that's what you're living in, what it's like, that sort of thing. Again, I really don't mean to sound like a voyeur into your life, I just like to know how these things are working out for real people.

[radfringe]

3. we're down to 1/2 cord of wood

hope Feb. stays mild - we may be able to stretch it.... we put up 5 1/2 cords in the fall, figuring we would use about a cord a month. we figured wrong and this was a pretty mild winter. I told my partner we should be thinking of 10 cords for next winter.

meanwhile, we're going to try to scrape some money together to get another cord delivered this weekend

[bdot]

5. Why would costs be up?

I paid less in Dec 2005 than I did in 2006.
Jan 2006 was the warmest ever. I didn't use the heat that much.
Are they saying that the temps are to plummet in Feb?