150% increase in heating bill from dec 04 to dec 05 bill.

[salin]

Reading some folks bills - I feel I have little room to complain - mine was "only" $138; but that is compare to $55 for the same month a year earlier. Yes we had a colder end of November (covered by the bill) this year - but last year I kept the heat on during the day (just forgot to turn it down) - and I believe I kept the thermostat a few degrees higher last year. I honestly do not know how those living on a thread (barely with enough coming in to pay the bills) and on a fixed income can absorb this rate of increase in their budgets.

I haven't read as many stories, this week, about the WH push to convince the public about the great economy. Hard to continue to convince folks whose personal costs are escalating at what feels like an exponential rate, while incomes stay relatively flat, that they - as individuals - are the exception and that outside of the individual exception's world the economy is great (and bush deserves credit... the second part of the PR line they were pushing just beyond a week ago - ala the economy is great and bush deserves the credit.)

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

1. Up 50%

But percentages are always misleading.

Up to $210/month from $140/month. Between that and the extra $100+/month for gasoline...

DBDB

[salin]

5. I was fortunate enough

to be able to get a new Prius - so while gas costs are climbing again - my consumption has gone down by half. A couple of more years, though, of flat income with skyrocketing fuel and health ins costs and I would probably not be in the position to buy a vehicle of anykind. I work with families on the economic edge - and they now (didn't a year ago) describe a trip to the store, or an unexpected errand, in terms of cost (as in, its gonna cost 3.00 to just go to the store...)

[XanaDUer]

2. Nine went from $30 to $91 in one month

and I only use gas to heat the hot water...amazing!

[salin]

3. wow - 200% increase

for minimal use. Yikes.

[XanaDUer]

11. I have no idea how those who have to heat

entire homes are faring. Our local paper (Atlanta Journal Const) is featuring stories about those who are turning off the heat, piling on the blankets, and wearing sweaters, thinking that they would stave off the big bills, are STILL getting huge bills. ONe local woman had a $900+ monthly bill that she cannot pay...that's more than my rent.

Anyway, the paper also talked about how, *cough* *cough* deregulation is letting them charge whatever they wish...I live in a red area, so I am not sure what they thought the word "deregulation" meant, but now they are freezing their red (now blue from the cold, lol) asses off...

EDIT: Typo

[salin]

15. That is one heck of a bill

$900 for one month. Amazing.

When did the state deregulate?

Not sure how this state (red, Indiana) avoided going through deregulation... oh ya, Democratic gov.s and a democratic maj in the statehouse - both which disappeared in the 2004 election. Guess they didn't act fast enough (they are on a huge privatize and outsource everything not bolted down, kick) - with skyrocketing costs - they (Hoosier GOP) would be crucified if they pushed energy dereg.

[XanaDUer]

16. Have no idea

I just moved here a few months ago and am just getting into the poli scene here.

Anyway, yesterday's AJC talked about the deregulation, etc., and how that plays a part in the price increase.

[salin]

18. Glad that the AJC is including dereg as part of the analysis

sometimes things have to be put very explicitly - as the public doesn't always put two and two together.

[lonestarnot]

4. Mine probably doubled.

[salin]

6. our increase, is in a regulated market

isn't slowing down the rate of increase - but had us starting at a much lower cost to begin with. Though the utility companies are appealing the utilities regulation board(s) for the ability to have greater rates increases (not sure the details). Er, greater than an annual 150% rate increase? Egads.

[lonestarnot]

8. Deregulation always brings increase.

[XanaDUer]

12. Bingo.

See my post upthread.

Now they are yelling at the gas workers about the prices...better to yell at, oh, Sonny Perdue, the repuke gov, and the rest of the rethugs...

[salin]

14. Agreed.

My point - though not clear - is that even with regulation we have steep increases and they (utilities) want more. Can't fathom how high they would have climbed in the same time period were we a deregulated market.

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. When are people going to finally UNDERSTAND THAT?

:banghead: :argh:

[XanaDUer]

20. Maybe when they are stuck

foraging for wood, huddled around a campfire outside to stay warm.. :eyes:

Their obtuseness does get irritating after a while.

Anyway, now they are running the ads for people who can afford to do so to donate extra money on their bills by showing elderly people freezing in their homes.

Jesus, this is supposed to be AmeriKKKa.

[SammyWinstonJack]

25. It is America, America for the rich, of the rich and by the rich.

Everyone else can just go pound sand. And apparently some of those left too pound sand like it that way, just so long as gays can't marry. Total self-serving IDIOTS! :spank:

[HockeyMom]

7. I HAVE to move

Looking for an apartment which will include the heating costs in the rent. Also, looking for one closer to work. I also cannot afford the gas driving 30 miles a day back and forth to work either.

[lonestarnot]

9. As bushitler would say, "You've put yourself in a bad spot."

[salin]

10. I would guess that those rentals are getting harder to find

I am sorry to hear that these costs are likely to force you to move.

[shrike]

21. The apartment ads around here

Are all blaring "free heat" and "the heat's on us" as a selling point. Never mind that the rents themselves are too high -- people are ready to bite the bullet and pay a fixed cost for a higher-cost, crappy apartment.

[Armstead]

13. They claim inflation is down -- Ha ha ha

The knuckleheads who make great pronouncements on the economy say one reason for econmic cheer is that inflation has been brought under control.

Personally, I can't think of one damn thing whose costs have been brought "under control." I gues heat, gasoline, food, housing etc. are not part of the inflationary figures.

[salin]

19. one or two years ago there was a small item

about how the "weights" were changed in the calculation for inflation. All I recall is that less weight was given to energy costs and weight was added to entertainment. What a joke.

[XanaDUer]

22. In the 1980s

with Reagan, what they did was, in order to make it look like Reagan had a wonderful economic effect, they simply pulled energy and food out of the equation for calculating inflation.

It pulled out critical-to-survival items from the deal.

The CPI is what is used to measure inflation. Calculate raises, etc.

[salin]

23. Is it also used to figure out COLA raises to SS?

COLA = Cost of Living (A = ?) increases that are used to calculate annual SS payments.

[Armstead]

24. Funny coincidense, eh?

[salin]

26. Wonder why we stopped hearing about bush's Great Economy Tour?

Harder and harder to bamboozle those whose real life experience is so far away from the reality painted by the pres.

[Armstead]

27. painted by the pres and the press

[lonestarnot]

34. Yeah now isn't that just the most wwwwaaaaaaaaaa you ever heard!

Inflation is down only in my tires because I haven't checked them for a month!

[XanaDUer]

28. Kick

...

[leftofthedial]

29. mine is up 74%

but, I moved into a much smaller, much newer, much better-insulated house. I set my thermostat at 58.

[salin]

30. Do I read this correctly -

the increase is inspite of the move and turned down thermostat... yikes!

[leftofthedial]

31. you read right

plus, I now live alone except for three days every two weeks, whereas before it was me, the now ex, and two teenage daughters

something ain't right.

[Contrary1]

32. Mine was up about 25%...

We are keeping the thermostat around 63 degrees (menopause does have its perks). All the unused rooms are closed off,
as well as the upstairs vents. Indiana has had fairly mild winters, both last year, and so far this season.

We are empty-nesters with a 4 bedroom tri-level. Anybody looking to re-locate? :hi:

[Nutmegger]

33. This is horrible

on top of that, my parents have some medical bills and the electric company has increased rates. They just feel some helpless, I feel bad. I'll help out once I finally get my degree; I'm already drowning in debt because the freaking tuition has been increased...again!!! These damn bastards will stop as nothing until the middle-class is sucked up. Then after that they would want our clothes. No compassion, no pity. It's the American way!