National Grid officials said the average natural gas customer can expect to pay about $66 more this winter heating season, which runs from Nov. 1 through March 31.
Regional director of external affairs Alberto Bianchetti said the increase is caused by a number of factors.
"The cost of the natural gas and electricity is going up, and then secondly, the cost of providing the service, the taxes that we pay, what we pay for equipment, for resources, for assets, for our workforce, for our trucks,” he said.
To save on heating, National Grid recommends sealing holes and cracks where cold air can get in and taking advantage of sunlight by opening drapes during the day.
For every one degree a thermostat is set back, customers may be able to save 1-3 percent on their heating costs.
Service supervisor Matt Shorney said also make sure you’re replacing your furnace filters regularly.
"If you get a clogged filter, (the furnace) starts to choke up. It's not running as efficiently,” he said. “It's trying harder to breathe, so that's going to increase your electric costs for sure."
And for customers concerned about making ends meet this winter, consumer advocate Mary Beth Basha said there are multiple programs available to help, like payment plans or HEAP grants.
"Reach out to us because honestly, in all of our years, I can't even count on one hand the people we couldn't take care of,” she said.
Basha said the sooner people reach out to consumer advocates, the more likely it is they will be able to help.
They can be reached at consumeradvocatesUNY@nationalgrid.com or 1-800-642-4272.
For more information about available programs and energy saving tips, click here.
