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U.S. NEWSMonday 19 October 2015
In New England, low heating
oil prices may buy some time
In this January 2015 photo, a driver for an oil delivery company fills his truck at the Sprague ter- DAVID SHARP That’s music to the ears of
minal in South Portland, Maine. New England is getting another break on heating oil prices this Associated Press John Reinhardt, who runs
winter, with potential savings of hundreds of dollars per customer, providing breathing room for PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — a bed and breakfast in a
a region with some of the nation’s highest energy costs. But some officials worry lower prices will New England is getting an- 139-year-old Victorian-style
lead to complacency on efforts to improve efficiency. other break on heating oil home in Wiscasset.
prices this winter, with po- Last year, Reinhardt saved
(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) tential savings of hundreds $1,500 to $2,000 through a
of dollars per customer, combination of lower oil
providing breathing room prices, use of wood for sup-
for a region with some of plemental heat and keep-
the nation’s highest ener- ing the thermostat at 58 or
gy costs. But some officials 60 degrees. This year, he’s
worry lower prices will lead hoping for savings of up to
to complacency on efforts an additional $1,000.
to improve efficiency. Low “I know that if I do the
oil and propane prices al- same thing this year that I
ready have made it more did last year, then I should
difficult for gas distribution rack up more savings in
companies that are try- oil,” Reinhardt said. “I think
ing to expand their service it’ll be another good year.”
areas in the region. Sales Lower energy costs aren’t
of energy-efficient auto- keeping all consumers from
mated pellet furnaces also making changes. Instal-
have flagged because of lation of home solar proj-
lower oil prices. “It’s been ects, for example, has not
a slow year for getting resi- slowed down this year, said
dential customers to con- Phil Coupe, co-founder of
vert,” said Peter Bottom- Re-Vision Energy, the larg-
ley, of Maine Natural Gas, est installer of home solar
which expects customer systems in Maine and New
growth this year of 4 per- Hampshire. But there are
cent, compared with 15 concerns about compla-
percent the year before. cency. Back when heating
“Residential homeowners oil cost $3.50 per gallon a
are willing to wait until the few years ago, heating oil
moment when they can users were scrambling to
see instant savings.” Oil pric- switch to natural gas, Bot-
es cratered late last winter, tomley said. If they wait
providing an unexpected until heating oil prices
windfall of hundreds of mil- spike again, then the flood
lions of dollars to energy of customers seeking to
consumers in New Eng- switch could overwhelm
land, where the number suppliers, he said. Looking
of homes using heating oil to the future, New England
ranges from 32 percent in governors are working to
Massachusetts to nearly 70 boost natural gas capac-
percent in Maine, the state ity to avoid energy spikes
that’s most dependent caused by shortages dur-
on heating oil. The trend is ing times of peak demand,
expected to continue this requiring the use of older,
winter, putting even more costly plants that use ker-
money in people’s pock- osene and heating oil as
etbooks and smoothing fuel sources. That becomes
over price spikes caused even more important with
by inadequate natural gas news that Pilgrim Nuclear
pipeline capacity in New Power Station will close
England, officials say. The by June 2019, reducing
latest Maine survey put the the region’s electric sup-
average heating oil price ply by 680 megawatts. It’s
at close to $2 per gallon, assumed that natural gas-
about 50 cents lower than powered plants will fill the
the same time a year ago. gap, since wind power and
A combination of lower solar can’t make the dif-
energy prices and a fore- ference, officials say. Five
cast for a warmer winter New England states have
will mean savings of 18 per- agreed that electric utili-
cent for propane users and ties can help fund natural
25 percent for heating oil gas pipelines, potentially
users over last winter, ac- providing more money for
cording to the Energy Infor- future infrastructure invest-
mation Administration. ments. q
