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Higher energy costs expected to make winter more expensive

By Howard B. Owens

Are you ready for higher heating bills this winter?

The D&C reports that natural gas heating is expected to be 18 percent higher this season.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration projected this week that Americans who heat with natural gas will pay an average of 18 percent more this winter than last.

In the Rochester region, where natural gas is the most common fuel for heating, this would mean the average consumer would pay $274 a month for a total of $1,370 from November through March, up more than $200 for the season.

Do you have conservation tips to share?

I think we'll be burning more wood.

Howard B. Owens

I just thought of something we did this summer -- we had our air ducts cleaned out. Our house is 50 years old -- and they had probably never been cleaned. They were quite clogged, I'm told.

It was expensive -- 50 percent off from Sears, so $500, which may not be viable for many people ... it would probably take three winters at least to break even.

Oct 9, 2008, 8:11am Permalink

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