Save on your heating bills with a proactive approach
Staying warm at home will cost more this year—but not as much as had been predicted. In August, PSE&G sought approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for a 14.3 percent increase in residential gas rates—one-third less than originally requested—based on a decrease in wholesale gas costs. “We don’t make a profit,” says Karen Johnson, a spokesperson for PSE&G. “The goal is always to break even.” To help consumers manage natural gas costs, PSE&G recommends:
• Insulate. Seal windows and doors; close off unused spaces.
• Invest in a programmable thermostat. Lower the temperature when you are away and at night.
• Plan. Look into a twelve-month equal payment program.
Similarly, for heating-oil customers the super-high predictions of speculators have leveled off, says Richard Goldberg, president of Warm Thoughts Communications, a Bergen County-based consulting company for heating oil and propane providers.
To keep heating oil costs in check, “get your system a tune-up,” says Goldberg. Or, invest in Energy Star appliances—especially if your furnace or boiler is more than 20 to 25 years old. Modern equipment can save up to 25 to 35 percent on heating costs, he says. Add-on upgrades, such as a new burner, can also lower costs.
Goldberg cautions against new-customer price incentives, which may be offered by less-reputable oil distributors and provide short-term savings—usually without the back-up of good service. “If the deal seems too good, the company may be too bad.”
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