Relief from high heating bills unlikely to last

[Algorem]

Bracing for winter's return: Relief from high heating bills unlikely to last

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-22/113748954588980.xml&storylist=cleveland

1/17/2006, 4:13 a.m. ET
By H. JOSEF HEBERT
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — ...

"It makes me angry," says Ray. "I think we are being gouged."...

"We're heading into the really bad part of the winter and I'm terrified for the elders and the children and the disabled who have already exhausted their (energy assistance) benefits," says John Drew, of the Action for Boston Community Development, a nonprofit group in Massachusetts that helps the poor.

Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, which represents state energy offices, estimates more than 5.6 million people will file for federal help to pay heating bills. Congress has provided $2.1 billion for the program, and the Bush administration recently released $100 million for immediate use — amounts Wolfe says are about the same as in past years when the need was far less...

Last week, Bloomingburgh got some help from an unusual source — Venezuela. The Venezuelan-owned Citco Petroleum Corp. is providing 12 million gallons of heating oil to cash-strapped families at a 40 percent discount...

[nickinSTL]

1. "I think we are being gouged"...Really?

There's a surprise...:sarcasm:

My bill nearly doubled from this time last year...my apartment is at 65 degrees, and it's been an unusually warm winter.

For those sceptics who'll ask where my proof is...I don't have any. I just object to the high prices...which seem to have no clear reason for being so high. Gouging is just my feeling.

[Lorien]

2. The prospects for many this winter really are frightening

if they survive the cold, then what about burst pipes? They may come out of this winter with home repairs that they can't afford either. We need an honest congressional investigation into price gouging, more tax incentives for renewable energy and it's development, and we need more communities to accept the help that Venezuela is offering!

[rodeodance]

3. Bush gets lucky with this unusually warm winter (here in the midwest)

[mvd]

4. I'll tell them when relief will come

When we get a Democrat in the White House in 2008. Bush could care less about regulation that helps people.

[Village Idiot]

5. Somebody tell Hugo we're outta OIL again!!!