Heating oil prices could become 'life or death' this winter

[jpak]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2005/09/11/heating_oil_prices_could_become_life_or_death_this_winter/

AUBURN, Maine --Richard F. Smith tried to prepare for high heating oil prices: He applied for home heating assistance, he's ready to seal off three unused rooms, and he has insulated his cellar and electrical outlets.

Despite all that, the 75-year-old expects to dip into his life savings to keep warm this winter, even with federal heating assistance.

"People are concerned but what the hell can you do?" said Smith, who lives alone with his cat Sam in a seven-room house built in 1820.

With fuel prices surging because of Hurricane Katrina, there are no guarantees heating oil won't hit an unprecedented $3 a gallon. And officials worry that federal heating assistance for the poor will fall short of what's necessary to keep people warm.

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[KyndCulture]

1. Fuel oil is already 3.00 a gallon here in Minnesota.

It's gonna be electric space heaters for us this winter. We can't afford to fill the tank as it is.

[jpak]

5. During a cold snap there is a very real threat

that excessive electrical demand from space heaters will result in blackouts (rolling or otherwise).

Which would make matters worse as oil burners require electricity to operate.

Then there will be a run on portable generators and gasoline to operate them....

etc...

[okieinpain]

2. that's no joke, can you imagine a spike in home heating oil, like

gas did this summer.

[HereSince1628]

3. Natural gas is projected to be 71% more expensive in Wisconsin

There are a lot of people that will be making hard choices this winter...the elderly and poor may need recipe guides for dogfood before spring.

[phantom power]

4. Death is just "demand destruction" to a Republican economist.

You know... it's a good thing. The market correcting itself.

I figure that over the next 50-100 years, we may see the market correct itself to the tune of 1 or 2 billion dead humans. No doubt the surviving republicans will say "the system worked!"

[pushycat]

6. Survival of the fiendish