Oil & Gas prices in Canada this winter

[Domitan]

Midwest USA will have horrendous gas prices this winter, especially for these homes that use natural gas. The news of a 71 percent increase has been floating around for weeks.

Now, what will be the case for Canada? Will we suffer the same as the Americans or will we be able to stave off such a jump in heating costs?

[hermetic]

1. Switch to wood

nm

[Mother Jones]

7. Actually, wood is up too

We paid an additional $60 per bush cord.

Still a cheaper option though.... (and renewable resource)

[tuvor]

2. Why would it be different here?

Aren't all fuels pretty much based on the going rate?

I mean, gas is at record levels in Calgary, isn't it?

[democracy eh]

4. continental energy market

the fuel goes where it gets the best price

[imouttahere]

3. I thought I read that the poor in Canada were going to get help....

from the government, and while that doesn't help the middle folks, it is a great thing.

[Bassic]

5. Yeah 250$ per family.

Wooptie fuckin' doo.

[imouttahere]

10. But compared to the Amerikan poor....

who will get $0

[lostinacause]

11. Most of the "middle folks" can handle the burden.

Besides most people can see through politicians taking people's money giving everybody their money back to them (so long as they don't live in Alberta).

[Canadian_moderate]

6. Probably similar increases here

All the more reason to conserve as much as possible.

Maybe people will think twice about buying that 4000 sq. ft. home and settle for a more efficient and practical 2000 sq. ft. home instead?

I realize this hurts the poor even more, but what other options are there? We all need to reduce our energy consumption.

[Domitan]

8. Update

Here in Southwestern Ontario, the Union Gas variable rate for gas has increased to 31.X cents from 29.X cents. This will remain in effect until January 2006, which is expected to have higher rates. Prices tend to drop in Aprils.

We're looking at possible fixed rates (5 year timespan). Direct Energy jumped to 45-49 cents from 37-39 cents (in September), so that's way too high for me. However, there's another company that has a 37.9 cent rate for 5 full years. We can handle that, so are really contemplating locking down at that rate.

[oblivious]

9. World gas prices: Countries with lots often offer lower prices at home.

Venezuela - 12 cents a gallon
Kuwait - 62 cents/gal
Saudi Arabia - 92 cents/gal
Trinidad - $1/gal

Compared to
US - almost $3/gal??
Europe - $5 to 6/gal

[lostinacause]

12. Taxes are in both US and Europe's prices. The countries with

low gas prices are just subsidizing consumption. It would be better for these countries to have higher prices but invest the profits in things that help the citizens.

[oblivious]

13. I get your point. But low gas prices also help their citizens.

1. allow cheap public transport
2. lower the cost of food production, processing and distribution
3. make industry more internationally competitive

and so on

Though I agree with you in general. Low prices promote waste, pollution and all sorts of extra costs for society and the environment.