Even Before Long Winter Begins, Energy Bills Send Shivers in New England

New York Times ^ | DEC. 13, 2014 | KATHARINE Q. SEELYE

[OddLane]

SALEM, N.H. — John York, who owns a small printing business here, nearly fell out of his chair the other day when he opened his electric bill.

For October, he had paid $376. For November, with virtually no change in his volume of work and without having turned up the thermostat in his two-room shop, his bill came to $788, a staggering increase of 110 percent. “This is insane,” he said, shaking his head. “We can’t go on like this.”

For months, utility companies across New England have been warning customers to expect sharp price increases, for which the companies blame the continuing shortage of pipeline capacity to bring natural gas to the region.

[PAR35]

Plenty of trains to carry plenty of coal. Blame Obama and the Democrats.

[Pearls Before Swine]

I live in MA. Oil prices are down, but electricity prices are up. Is this gentleman heating with electricity?

[acapesket]

Actually, it is the Moonbats in NH and VT blocking this pipeline.

[KarlInOhio]

I think the words are "electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket".

[goldstategop]

Wear thermal underwear, fleece lined jeans and a warm jacket in an unheated building.

It will keep you warm on the coldest nights. All without running up your heating bill.

[GladesGuru]

Those six states are largely Libtard - they oppose fracking, pipelines, even a transmission line to bring in hydro-power.

LET THE ‘TARDS FREEZE TO DEATH! ! !

It will remove a hopefully significant number of Democratic voters.

Stupidity isn’t the reason they voted themselves into this mess becasue they are de facto commies.

Freezing is actually too good for them.

YMMV.

[RegulatorCountry]

Dig out your Carter Cardigans, New Englanders. By your voting you wanted this, now live with it.

[Leaning Right]

Wear thermal underwear, fleece lined jeans and a warm jacket...

When it gets cold, Americans turn up the thermostat. The rest of the world puts on a sweater.

[familyop]

The article excerpt says, in essence, that the electric power plant is fired by natural gas. Many have said that natural gas will continue to be low cost, even after natural gas investor interests got with the government to raise the costs of coal-fired plants and shut down some of them. We knew that costs would go up, though. Investment firms have even been calling investors to natural gas recently.

[RegulatorCountry]

If you really want to stay warm get some silk thermal underwear. It’s surprising because the fabric is light and thin, but the knit is dense and traps body heat. You’ll sweat in all but the coldest weather.

[familyop]

Let's see now... Where are those utility investors?

Heavy Hitters: Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2014
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php
“2 American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees $60,949,129 [Democrat] 81% [Republican] 1%”

Leviathan (Uncle Sam employs more people than you think)
National Review ^ | 02/03/2011 | Iain Murray
"...nearly 40 million Americans employed in some way by government."

About "70 million" people are receiving good incomes but are also steeped in debt and can't borrow more for big ticket items (see groups above).

[goldstategop]

When it gets cold enough that one can feel it, I wear a down jacket next to my down comforter and polyester blanket set. Any colder and I put my sleep bag underneath the blankets to keep my feet warm and put down my jacket hood. If its really cold, a balaclava keeps the face warm.

I’ve learned to do without heating since my landlord won’t pay for it.

[familyop]

Here’s a personal solution. Turn down the thermostats and wear heavy clothing indoors. Let the pipes freeze.

;-)

[mowowie]

I try to keep the lights OFF as much as i can and my light bill here in MA is still outrageous.

[Vince Ferrer]

A year ago, the governors of the six New England states agreed to pursue a coordinated regional strategy, including more pipelines and at least one major transmission line for hydropower. The plan called for electricity customers in all six states to subsidize the projects, on the theory that they would make up that money in lower utility bills.

But in August, the Massachusetts Legislature rejected the plan, saying in part that cheap energy would flood the market and thwart attempts to advance wind and solar projects. That halted the whole effort.

Let them freeze if that's what they want.

[goldstategop]

Really? I have my room lights on 24/7 and the savings from LEDs and cool room CFLs. I hate yellow incandescents.

[ClayinVA]

Sucks to be them, they can not understand why bad things happen to them when they keep voting Democrats in office. It is looking like the Northeast will not be able to sustain themselves very longer and people will have to move south because they cannot afford to pay $1000 a month for heat plus extremely high personal property and income tax bills.

[ClayinVA]

they are shutting down the Nuke plant and some of the coal plants in the area and the pipeline system for gas will be very congested. 24 cents per KW/Hour is crazy, it might work out better to run your own generator at those prices.

[ConservativeStatement]