Like it or not, the winter months are approaching. But it appears most Upstate New York homeowners will be paying less to heat their homes between November and March. National Grid officials today released their projections for the five month heating season.
Gas and Electric Bill Predictions for Winter 2014-2015:
- natural gas bills to drop by at least 10%
- electricity bills to fall by 3-9%
National Grid has taken various steps in ensuring the reduced cost of electricity and gas for Upstate New York. They include putting in place a permanent electricity supply price as well as creating solutions for customers to recover higher-than-expected supply costs. While this new method will be beneficial to residences and companies, it is not guaranteed to be as effective for extreme conditions and these conditions may, in fact, increase the market price and the amount of energy we use. To prevent this inflation, National Grid and other companies have developed programs and energy suppliers to fit customers' lifestyle needs.
Utility officials say the average customer uses 30% more electricity during the winter heating season. A customer’s bill is divided between the energy supply and the energy delivery. The energy supply is the amount of energy needed by a customer and the energy delivery is the cost to operate and maintain the systems delivering the energy. Luckily, these costs are expected to be reduced for this upcoming heating season.
Many companies do offer various billing options and financial assistance. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority offers help in managing bills. The Budget Billing program divides payments evenly throughout the year for customers. National Grid offers assistance in those with concerns about paying their bill. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program loans financial assistance to eligible applicants. Visit National Grid’s website for more advice on selecting an energy supplier and how to save money this winter.