A forecast by government officials that heating bills will fall this winter means good news for people's wallets and local energy assistance programs.
Energy prices are expected to decrease this year by an average of 8 percent from October through March, the Energy Information Administration said Tuesday in its annual winter fuel and energy predictions. A milder winter also is expected to help lower bills.
"That would be a great help," said Brittany Polen, 21, who lives in an apartment with her 4-year-old daughter, Kimora. She said her electric bill can reach $240. "I just scrambled to get my power bill together."
Madeline Hall, 39, said she hoped prices would go down this winter so she could save more money on her two-bedroom apartment, which has a monthly energy bill of about $235. She said she has tried adjusting the temperature when she is gone and buying energy-saving curtains.
"I wish I knew other ways so it wouldn't be that high," said Ms. Hall, who has a family of four. "But I'm already doing right now what I think it takes to save."
Every dollar of savings on energy bills will help low-income energy assistance programs, said Lola Johnson, the operations and community services director for the Central Savannah River Area Economic Opportunity Authority.
"We're really excited, because this means that we're going to be able to assist a good portion of the families in need," Mrs. Johnson said. "By no means all, but a good portion."
The organization, which administers the energy assistance application process, will begin taking applications Nov. 2 for the elderly and homebound. Applicants who meet income and household requirements get $350 paid directly to their main energy supplier.
"(Energy savings) mean that one-time payment of $350 will help them for a longer period of time," Mrs. Johnson said.
She said money from the federal economic stimulus plan also helped the energy assistance agency last year and will again this year.
Last year the nonprofit group gave more than 12,600 households energy assistance in its 13-county area, which includes Richmond, Columbia and Burke. That amount totaled nearly $4.5 million.
A similar amount should be available this year, Mrs. Johnson said.
Officials from the Aiken/Barnwell Community Action Commission Inc., which also oversees energy assistance applications, did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Reach Erin Zureick at (706) 823-3217 or erin.zureick@augustachronicle.com.
ENERGY REPORT
The Energy Information Agency report released Tuesday also said:
- Gasoline prices are expected to hit a national average of $2.44 a gallon by the end of the year, then increase next year to an average of $2.62.
- Crude oil prices are likely to average about $70 a barrel through the winter period, and global petroleum consumption is expected to increase by about 1.1 million barrels a day in 2010 as the economy strengthens.
- U.S. crude oil production is expected to increase slightly next year to 5.34 million barrels a day.
- While a 5.9 percent decline in carbon dioxide emissions is projected for this year compared with 2008, mainly because of the declining economy, carbon dioxide pollution will again be on the rise next year. The EIA projects an increase of 1.1 percent in 2010. Carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels is the leading greenhouse gas linked to climate change.
-- Associated Press
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Natural gas prices are the lowest in many years, but the trickle down to the homeowner is only 8%? That beats higher prices this year but never seems fair. When the DDDC multipler is added back in for each month we do not save too much anyway.
The middle class and owners of large homes will not notice much of a difference, the glass is half empty.
I wonder if this isn't another Obama lie; especially when GA Power has requested (and received) permission to RAISE rates. They already make more then they should because the PUC allows GA Power to INCREASE RATES from June 1 - Sept 30 for "summer use," and during Holidays. They double the amount owed for wattage--if your billing is actually $190, you are billed $380 for that month. It's no wonder people cannot pay their utility bills.