Published July 04, 2008 11:15 pm - Prices have more than doubled in the last year, leaving people wondering what to do for heat this winter.
Fuel oil and kerosene prices fueling worry about winter
By DAN HEATH
Staff Writer
PLATTSBURGH -- Soaring heating-oil and kerosene prices have some people shivering with worry well before winter's arrival.
What's your opinion?
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Dave Curry of Peru said he purchased 500 gallons of heating oil from Church Oil at $2.59 a gallon in August 2007. When the company put the last of that oil in his tank in April, he was charged $3.90 a gallon for the last 10.2 gallons used to fill his tank.
Curry said that if heating oil rises to $5 a gallon, as appears likely, it will cost him $2,500 to heat his house next winter, as opposed to $1,300 last winter.
"I don't think people are going to be able to heat their homes. I feel sorry for young families with a mortgage and young mouths to feed."
People can get some relief from gasoline prices by limiting unnecessary travel, he said, such as vacations. That's not the case when it comes to heating-oil prices.
"You've got to heat your house."
GAMBLING ON COSTS
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority tracks home-heating-oil prices. It shows that heating oil in eight northern New York counties averaged $4.65 on June 16, up from $4.02 April 14. The June figure is up $2.03 from that time last year, an increase of 77 percent.
Some people have to make a decision whether they should lock in a price for the upcoming winter or take a chance prices would remain stable or go down.
Church Oil in Plattsburgh is still waiting to decide if it will allow customers to lock in prices ahead of winter.
Bookkeeper Jan Trombley said that if the company does allow locked-in rates, they will be announced sometime in August.
"We're hoping to do it. We have every year for the last 10 years."
The company is watching the market before it makes that decision. On Thursday, Church Oil was selling heating oil at $4.59 a gallon and kerosene at $4.89 per gallon.
The company does offer a budget payment program, 11 monthly payments from July to May, with the month of June left for people to catch up on unpaid balances.
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