Natural Gas, Electricity to go up this fall
According to the Energy Information Administration:
Average household expenditures for all space-heating fuels are projected to be $1,137 this winter (October 1 to March 31), a 15-percent increase over the estimated $986 spent last winter. The largest increases will be in households using heating oil and natural gas. The projected increases primarily reflect higher prices, although colder weather than last winter will also contribute to higher fuel use in many areas.
Natural Gas. Households heating primarily with natural gas are expected to spend an average of $155 (18 percent) more this winter. Nationwide, about 52 percent of all households depend on natural gas as their primary heating fuel. The increase in natural gas expenditures reflects the combined effects of a 17-percent increase in price and 1-percent increase in consumption. In the Midwest, where 72 percent of all households rely on natural gas, a projected 17-percent increase in average household expenditures results from a 19-percent increase in prices and a decline in consumption of 2 percent due to the forecast of slightly warmer weather than last winter.
Electricity. Households heating primarily with electricity can expect to pay an average of $89 (10 percent) more. Thirty-five percent of all U.S. households rely on electricity as their primary heating fuel, ranging from 12 percent in the Northeast to 59 percent in the South. On average, electricity expenditures during the winter are projected to rise by 10 percent because of increased consumption and prices. Households in the South are projected to pay 13 percent more this winter on electricity bills.
Contrasted with the current rate of inflation (for the sake of argument we’ll say 5%, a high estimate), these numbers are strikingly high.
Question: I am struggling with paying my bills as things currently stand, who do I have to thank for these large price increases on my utilities?
Answer: According to the study entitled, “Lights Out in 2008” :
The single biggest threat to system reliability is opposition from well-funded environmental groups that oppose and file lawsuits against virtually every new electricity project proposed.
The process of siting new transmission is increasingly difficult and expensive due to…local opposition; environmental challenges; legal battles; and jurisdictional questions….
Opposition to infrastructure projects by environmental groups is the single biggest threat to maintaining the reliability of the North American electrical grid and ‘keeping the lights on.’
Etc.
We’ve been saying this for a while now. Affordable and renewable energy: it’s something that’s necessary. However, radical environmental groups are opposing innovators at every turn. Whether it be wind, wave, nuclear, biomass, hydroelectric, or geothermal the story is always the same.
