Just got my Fixed Price Agreement for Oil

[johnnymk]

I called the local distributor a few weeks ago to ask them how much oil would be for a fixed price until June 1 of 2009.

Well, I paid $2.69 this past season. Guess what they want...$5.49 !!!

Fotunately. they topped off the 290 gallon tank a few weeks ago at $2.69, which means I am good until about the middle of january. However, I am going to be using electric space heaters very often. At 15 cents per kilowatt hour, it's still a lot cheaper to use them versus oil.

I am financially well off. But I can't imagine what poor people are going to do in the northern parts of this country this winter.

[InfiniteNothing]

Blankets :)

[ray]

Blankets :)

Electric Blankets :)

[MrGreg]

My dad used his pellet stove a lot more this year, but I think prices there are going up, too.

[clutchy]

i still can't figure out this energy crunch thing... is it really a big deal or is it just shock factor?

[Jeffbx]

It can be a big deal for people on fixed incomes in rural areas. The depend on oil for heating & if they can't pay to fill the tank, they can't turn the heaters on. It's not like in an urban area where a gas line goes to the house & they can plead a hardship case to the utility company to keep it on. Skeeter over at BillyBob's Heating Oil company probably won't be as charitable as ConEd or PG&E.

I'd bet that anyone who makes wood or alternative fuel heating stoves will be doing a booming business this year, as well as anyone supplying the fuel - wood, corncobs, pellets, whatever.