How High Will Utility Bills Go This Winter?

Government should campaign for energy saving and give rebates to conserve energy and reduce waste.

In the UK there is supposedly 'competion' between the energy companies. But this is a myth, you can't go online and get a simple price per unit from any of them.
They have endless convoluted tariffs and what you pay will never be apparent until the bill hits you.
Competition is working in reverse rather than one company dropping price and the rest having to follow. One will raise it's prices and the rest follow.
It is effectively a monopoly and the suppliers whinge at every step whilst making huge profits.
It's like going to a store to but a loaf of bread for $1.
Then when you get to the check out the guy says ah yes but that was the cost of bread at the flour depot last night when demand was low.
This morning its $1.5, and we've had to bring it here, so it's now $2 and bake it.. $2.5, and it's terrible the cost of labour to bring it onto the shelf so that's $3.
Oh and for me to check it out ... heck let's just call it $5
But wait, let me check....
Based on your bread consumption last winter, we'de better make it $10 a day for the next 3 months paid in advance.
Ok, so let me tot that up...
Ah yes thats $900
Kerching...
Del

Given the predictions that winter in northern and New England states will be worse than average, heating fuel consumption will be higher than average. Therefore fuel prices will be higher than average (again!).

Around January, a former Shell executive predicted US gasoline prices around $5/gallon in 2012. Based on that, I re-posted to friends that gas would be $4 in the summer, and $5 in winter. Sofar, gas did briefly hit $4 this summer in Chicago, but has since lowered due to economic vitality (lack there of) and the switch from summer blend to winter blend.

My guess is due to continued inflation and higher demand utility bills will be somewhat higher than normal. But the continued bad economy will dampen how high they might go.

I don't know if the US federal govt will step in to offer more utility bill assistance since most states have regulations that limit utility companies ability to cut service during the winter months. But then Obama is getting a reputation for overstepping state laws.

Who knows!

I heat with mostly wood so my heat bill will stay the same. IF I get my wind generators up and working again my electric bill will probably go down just a bit.

As far as my driving fuel goes, well I am married now and the wife seems to have no concern about burning up $8 worth of fuel to make trip to town to get a single $2 item that she felt we didn't need to by multiples of or a larger quantity of when we went shopping a few days earlier in the week because that was just wasting money for things we thought we didn't need at the time.

I expect the vehicle fuel bill to run considerably higher this winter now.

tcmtech, I feel for ya pal......you're in between a rock and hard place! LOL

My wife. who hails originally from Long Island, has lead foot and even though she's lived in upstate NY for the past 30 years she drives like she's still living in LI! Ahhh the mentality of it all driving 15 miles one way unnecessarily just to pick-up a single item that's on sale for $2.00 Off! Drives me insane...so illogical to the X-Max!

My wife is the same also but living in northeren ontario we cant go anywhere without driving some weeks we spend 100-150 on gas @ 1.22-1.35 a liter why cant people get everything they need in one trip lmao YEEEEESH WOMEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have a scam that comes around every year.

The supplier of our natural gas, not the seller, comes around offering a locked-in rate for a period of five years. People buy into the program because they've seen the price increasing steadily. Just showing the salesman your gas bill is a tacit agreement, but people do not know that. Then the price drops and these people are stuck. There is a cancellation period but the process is a real pain. Usually, it takes a significant amount of time for the price to get to where it was and the scam thrusts itself onto new suckers people.

I meet these salesman on the sidewalk and kick them off my property.

On the positive side, our governments sometimes offer rebates and grants to people wishing to upgrade their homes with new windows, doors, insulation or furnaces. I replaced my windows and furnace/ac under one of these programs last year and now I see a 30% decrease in my gas bills. ROI is years, but it's nice when a February gas bill doesn't cause you to sh*t your pants.

It's unfortunate that people are willing to pray on consumer's fear to pad their bottom line, but that's the way it seems to work these days. Part of the blame should also rest on the shoulders of the consumer. It may not be their fault but you should strive to be as educated as possible before locking into a contract like that. I'm sure there are plenty of people who were burned talking about it.

Part of the blame should also rest on the shoulders of the consumer.
Not so in the UK see post#3. The suppliers don't publish clear price per unit information... they are a bunch of shysters too busy scratching eachothers backs.
The customer is merely given the illusion of choice.
Del

If wages are linked to cost of living index,consumers will be safe

Here in the Northeast much is being made of how much energy assistance will be cut for the upcoming heating season. I wonder how much effort is being made to re-locate people out of housing that are energy hogs and into something more affordable to reduce the need for such help.

I have done a number of things that have cut my heating oil costs by about half. I will keep working to reduce my usage until either the price drops to a reasonable level (unlikely) or until I completely eliminate my use of oil.

Good point - reducing consumption is a major factor, and one that we can all tackle at a personal level.

Thank God for natural gas, and having a small, well insulated home! We did not have a "fireplace", so added a small natural gas heating stove in the living room. We now do not have to heat the entire home to our desired temperature. I can be cool for a few minutes when I have to go to the rest of the house, and when I sleep. The stove is saving us quite a bit. We live in an average temp area (central IL), but would even do well in Minnesota, if we had natural gas. We pay more for air conditioning, because it runs on electricity, and keep the temp at 72 degrees. We also use compact flourescent lights inside and out. My pet peeve is the complex power bill. We pay for delivery charges and fuel charges separately, then we have numerous divisions and taxes. Many months we pay more for infrastructure than gas or electricity. Our legislature just voted, after they received donations (bribes), to give automatic price increases in exchange for the infrastructure upgrades they have always promised us with prior price increases. The governor had vetoed the bill, so they over rode him, after more donations. That is the way things are done here in Illinois. Chicago runs the state. Taxes and "fees" are enough to place a huge drag on the economy. We are killing the goose (economy) that laid the golden egg.