Ouch! My Heating Bill is Killing Me!!!

Last month I offered some tips for saving on home heating costs and talked about how I needed the tips myself. I stated that I've paid 44% more for 8% less fuel so far this heating season. Yikes!

Well, February didn't help things out one little bit. Here are the details of my heating costs this year versus last year for December through February:

Last Year

December 2004 -- 258 CCFs used, $228.13 cost
January 2005 -- 248 CCFs used, $219.60 cost
February 2005 -- 249 CCFs used, $220.45 cost
Total -- 755 CCFs used, $668.18 cost

This Year

December 2005 -- 259 CCFs used, $361.33 cost
January 2006 -- 201 CCFs used, $282.40 cost
February 2006 -- 227 CCFs used, $307.51 cost
Total -- 687 CCFs used, $951.24 cost

So, I've used 68 fewer CCFs but paid $283.06 more! I've cut my consumption by 9% and paid 42% more!!! Double yikes!!!!

And according to government estimates, it could have been a lot worse.

All I can do now is pray for an early spring -- this winter is killing me financially!!

How about you? Are you seeing the same sort of results in your heating bills?

If you'd like more tips to save on your heating costs, see these links:

• Save Up to 50% on Your Heating Bill with Three Simple Tasks
• Energy Savings Tips from Energy Star
• Save Hundreds on Your Heating Bill

Comments

[Canadian Capitalist]

How are natural gas prices set in the US? Are you paying spot rates?

Here in Ontario, natural gas rates are set once every three months. The rate for the current quarter was set back in Nov. when prices were soaring.

The good news is natural gas spot prices have plummetted and are now trading at one year lows. The bad news for us is we have to wait till April to start paying the lower rates.

[Gerard]

I feel your pain but let me tell you what's worse: having a newborn baby at home during the spike in heating prices. I consider myself pretty well-informed when it comes to personal finance but I was caught off-guard the bump in energy usage that accompany a newborn baby. More clothes to wash and dry and the house is now occupied all day and night by a fretful new mother who worries about it being "too cold for the baby". Ouch indeed!

[J. A. Random]

You need a woodstove. By running our woodstove almost full tilt, we've not only cut gas usage by nearly half, we've managed to cut our gas bill this year in spite of much higher gas prices. A post describing the savings is at http://missionnontrivial.blogspot.com/2006/02/woodstove-savings.html

And remember, wood warms you twice. Once when you cut, section, split, and move it, and once when you burn it.

[Jerry Maguire]

I have had several arguments with my significant other about heating bills. We had one that was $160 and I wasn't too happy with that. She is very cold sensitive and can't stand the cold. Over the past several months we haven't been using heat at night and have managed to cut our bill down to $60. Now everytime when I want to go out for sushi, she says "Let's eat at home and save money. I would rather have heat at night than eat sushi!" LOL!