As the month of September plods ahead, winter may still seem like a distant memory or a distant trouble, but like every year the days will continue to shorten, the temperatures will continue to drop, and every family in the Capital District will be faced with the proposition of turning on their heat.
In a continuing trend, many will be considering the financial aspect of keeping warm this winter. Though the details vary a bit depending on whom you ask, it is agreed that all manner of home heating fuels have increased in price since last year, and will continue to do so into the winter months.
The most recent numbers from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority show a more than 50 percent increase in the cost of heating oil from this time last year in the Capital District, with an average price of $3.97 per gallon (still a dime better than the state average).
Propane’s cost rose 35 percent over the past 12 months locally. Kerosene went up over 51 percent to $4.43 per gallon. Although natural gas has not seen such a dramatic change, it is still costly at a May 2008 price of $1.876 per thermal unit.
About 8.1 million of the 107 million homes in the United States use heating oil as their main source of heat, and more than 80 percent of those homes are grouped in the Northeast.
The forecast is causing many residing in colder climes to rethink their heating options for the winter, and that is driving up the sales of alternative methods for heating the home.
We’ve definitely seen an increase in people looking towards wood stoves and pellet stoves, said Tom DePalma, administrator of CR Gas, Logs and Fireplaces in Voorheesville. `This year, in particular, people are seeing the value.`
Pellet stoves in particular are seeing a surge in popularity. A fuel of compacted sawdust that bears a striking similarity to hamster food, the pellets are easy to store and are also fairly efficient. Since they are made from recycled materials, they are a more environmentally friendly option that allow for better heat control than straight cord wood.
`They’re not as high maintenance as wood, and you can control your heat better,` said Jodi Crouse, owner of Countryside Stove and Chimney in Burnt Hills. A pellet stove burns its fuel using an electric heat source, making controlling the strength of the fire a simple twist of the dial.
At Countryside, a ton of pellets sells for $280, and a family can generally get through a winter with three or four tons. They were out of stock when this story was written, however.
`They’re very hard to get right now,` said Crouse.
The popularity of the stoves means production has been lagging behind demand. The same is true of the stoves themselves.
`It’s the stoves that are becoming the problem,` said DePalma. `We do have a ready supply of them, but we’re hearing from some of the manufacturers that they can’t get them out until January.`
Wood and pellet stoves at CR run from under $1,000 to $2,500 and beyond, depending on the design and options. Though the operation will likely be less expensive in the long run, DePaula warned that wood or pellet stoves also include added work and maintenance, as they must be loaded and cleaned often.
Rising home heating costs haven’t escaped the notice of politicians vying for office in the current election cycle, just as escalating costs at the pump have become a major issue for voters. In the state’s 20th Congressional District, for example, both incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Greenport, and challenger Sandy Treadwell, R-Lake Placid, have both been promoting plans to help families cope with heating bills.
Treadwell is calling for a home heating oil rebate of up to $1,000 for families who use that fuel. `In our region heating your home is a necessity, not a luxury and too many people can’t keep pace with soaring energy costs,` said Treadwell in a statement.
Gillibrand is giving her support to the Home Energy Assistance Tax Relief Act, which would provide a $500 tax rebate to households that pay more than $1,500 in heating costs this winter.
There are already provisions in place to help low-income families pay their bills. The New York Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides assistance for households with `vulnerable individuals,` aged below 6 or above 60, that make less than $1,963 per month ($450 is added to the limit for the household’s occupants). Applications for the program are accepted at the start of October for furnace repairs, and November for emergency benefits.
Gov. David Paterson has vowed to work with state agencies to come up with more money to help New Yorkers with gas bills this coming winter, but he has not announced any solidified plans as of press time. Paterson is currently in the midst of a concerted effort to trim the state budget.
There are state incentives already in place for low-income families who wish to build or upgrade to an Energy-Star level home. For a one-income household in Albany County, for example, anyone making under $39,550 a year would be eligible for a $500 cash incentive to help with the upgrade.
For information on the HEAP program or Energy-Star incentives, go to www.getenergysmart.org.“