With winter fast approaching, central New Yorkers will be happy to hear that they’ll likely pay less for energy costs compared to last year. National Grid Central New York Director Alberto Bianchetti says natural gas supply costs are trending more favorably for customers.
"Assuming a typical winter, supply charges for the upcoming winter heating season are estimated to be about 13.7 percent lower compared to what customers saw last year.”
Factor in a slight increase in delivery charges, and Bianchetti says most consumers will still end up paying about $31 less for the heating season, which runs from November first through the end of March. So, the cost of natural gas is down, but what about electricity?
"Outside of unanticipated weather events, National Grid is also expecting electricity bills in Central New York to be lower. The supply side of residential electricity bills for the coming winter is expected to be 17% lower than last year.”
That’s certainly good news for customers, but Bianchetti says there are simple ways to save even more on their energy bills, such as turning off devices like TVs and lamps when they are not being used, deactivating space heaters and hot tubs, and investing in a Wi-Fi thermostat. Those who struggle to pay their heat bills won’t be left out in the cold; National Grid’s Home Energy Assistance Program provides federal financial aid to income-eligible households.
Safety was on the mind of Jim Kelly with the utility’s Customer Meter Services Department. He says the dangers of carbon monoxide increase during the heating season, but there are ways to avoid an emergency.
“What we would recommend is that you have all of your heating equipment...including your furnace, water heater, range, gas fireplace, checked by a licensed heating dealer. They're going to check the vent. They're going to check the filter. They're going to check proper operation of the burner, and that will preclude any problem you might have down the road relative to carbon monoxide poisoning.”
Because carbon monoxide is tasteless, colorless, and odorless, Kelly also recommends the installation of carbon monoxide detectors about five feet off the ground on every floor of the house. If you experience nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, or dizziness, he says to leave the house immediately and call National Grid. For more information on efficiency tips, heating assistance, and safety, visit their website here.
