Just got my natural gas bill for November. Highest I have ever had for any month, ever.

[Midnight Writer]

Over double what it was for November last year. And it wasn't even cold. My furnace was shut down several days of the month.

I can afford it, but I know a lot of folks won't be able to handle this.

Wages go up, but that money always ends up in the hands of our corporate masters.

Heaven help the working folk.

[blm]

1. And media will push Republican narrative to blame Biden.

[fescuerescue]

2. Trump's fault

[Tetrachloride]

3. In energy and economic posts, I suggest that location be given .

[Midnight Writer]

4. Central Illinois.

[MissB]

5. yeah it's going to be tough for a lot of folks

we too can afford it, plus our natural gas rate "only" went up 10%. There have been many recent years where they reduced the rate annually - I can't remember when the rate increased last.

But any increase is going to hit those folks with very little cash to spare.

There is a thread on our local next-door feed right now from someone who frequently begs folks not to burn wood. Dh and I do choose to burn wood occasionally, but we also have an insert with a catalytic converter so there is very little that escapes. Folks that rely on wood to heat their homes will be somewhat insulated from the increase in energy costs but again, increasing prices are going to hurt pretty much everyone.

[Hangingon]

9. Wood is pretty expensive

[MissB]

10. Yes but

There were tons of trees down from our ice storm in February so lots of free wood to be had. Folks around here drive around after storms and clear the roads, taking the wood they clear for themselves.

Funny thing I saw recently was someone that had signed up for chip drop and they’d indicated they were fine with logs. Well, she got logs- legit 18” diameter by 7’ long logs. She was looking for a chain saw needless to say.

We are fortunate in the wood department- our half acre has trees that need trimming or removing every couple of years so we tend to stay stocked. We also grab some from nearby homes that offer the wood rounds for free.

[Hangingon]

12. No fre wood around here

[OAITW r.2.0]

13. I used to get them in 20' lengths.

Back when I had an old farmhouse, I'd go through 3-4 cord a season. It took a few days to cut them up to 16-18" lengths, then split them. In my log home, I use about 2-1/2 cord/burn season. But I get them cut and split to stove length (seasoned). All I have to do it stack it now,

[ripcord]

15. I get 53' end dump load every couple of years

They are large pieces so I have to cut it down and split it but it saves me a lot of money.

[OAITW r.2.0]

14. I spent $750 for 3 cord this year.

That's a burn season's worth.

But I still use oil for water and heat as well. About $2300/year for 950 gal.

[hlthe2b]

6. I hold my breath, but I've minimized as much as I can.

Showers are QUICK. Laundry is combined in large cold-water loads and only once/weekly. Thermostat is kept on 59F and shut off in a couple of rooms not being used. Not sure what more I can do.

[samplegirl]

7. We all went to a variable rate

here and nobody knew about it!

[crud]

8. I just checked a wholesale price graph

Last edited Tue Dec 7, 2021, 03:06 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46456
After reading this chart correctly this time, it ends with 2020...so not really helpful to this discussion. my bad.

[moondust]

11. My November bill

had the same usage as November of last year but...the cost was exactly double this year.

[Johnny2X2X]

16. My bill was exactly the same

West Michigan here. 37 cents more this year, usage about the same.