Cold thoughts surfacing of shoveling mounds of snow, black ice glazing the roadways and traffic jams stalling chilly commutes might start to melt away for some with predictions of lower natural gas heating bills.
National Grid is forecasting winter heating bills for its natural gas customers to be lower this season compared to last year. Winter heating bills could be reduced up to 8 percent, according to National Grid. Typical residents using 711 therms during a normal heating season, from November to March, would pay $695 this winter, which is $61 lower than last year.
“It’s usually about this time of year that people start thinking about how they’re going to heat their homes this winter,” William Flaherty, director of customer and community management for National Grid. “Natural gas is the best heating source for local residents, because of its convenience, comfort and comparable environmental benefits. It is also almost 30 percent cheaper in today’s prices than an equivalent gallon of oil.”
Although, he added, there are other factors affecting the final tally on winter heating bills. The supply of natural gas isn’t a concern for the company, though.
“It is important to note that customer bills are impacted by weather conditions as well, and in the end it is market prices, the customer’s natural gas usage and the weather that determine the actual costs,” Flaherty said. “National Grid plays an active role in trying to manage our gas portfolio that we purchase on behalf of customers.”
Natural gas produces 27 percent lower carbon dioxide emissions compared to heating oil, Flaherty said, which can be increased to 40 percent if newer, high efficiency gas heating units are installed. According to National Grid, customers converting from oil to natural gas reduce carbon dioxide emissions in one year equal to taking 15 cars off the road.
The projections announcement was held at the residence of Kathleen Sullivan in Niskayuna, because she recently switched from using oil to gas to heat her home.
Sullivan said her former oil-burning furnace operated at around 70 percent efficiency and had been in the home for around 25 years. She’s lived in the home for five years. The cleaner and cheaper aspects of gas heating appealed to her when determining how to heat her home.
“This year I started thinking about converting … [to] a cleaner way to heat my home and a less expensive way to heat my home and of course I consider gas,” said Sullivan. “I am happy that the project is in the works and it has gone really well with all the National Grid employees.”
She said her new gas furnace operates at 90 percent efficiency. The total cost to purchase the furnace, hot water heater and parts and labor was around $6,000. For purchasing the new energy efficient furnace, National Grid is giving Sullivan a $770 rebate.
Within the coming weeks she is expected to start receiving natural gas service. In order to heat her home, the main gas line needed to be extended about 120 feet. National Grid covers up to 100 feet of a gas line extension, said Patrick Stella, spokesman for National Grid. Customers only have to pay for any remaining work beyond the 100 feet, Stella said, but don’t have to pay for their connection running off the main line to their home
“I know from personal experience, having owned a house that was heated by gas and a house that was heated by oil, it is just not as clean,” Sullivan said about oil heating. “Also, every year I just dreaded prepaying the oil bill and hoping that oil wouldn’t go up and hoping that oil would stabilize. It was really from year-to-year just something that I dreaded.”
Sullivan noted with National Grid she can go on a budget system, which allows her to pay a set amount every month until all usage is paid.
“In my opinion, oil is old school,” she said. “I absolutely expect to save money and in the long run it is the way to go.”
For energy saving tips and rebates, visit www.powerofaction.com, which is National Grid’s website detailing the efficiency program.
“There are things that people can do if they are not in a position to make a major investment,” Stella said. “Every degree you turn your thermostat down you can save anywhere from 3 to 5 percent on your bill, so that 1 degree does make a difference.”
Customers having concerns about paying their bills should call National Grid at 1-800-643-4272 as soon as possible.