BUFFALO, N.Y. — You might have to turn on the heat in the coming days. Last week, the New York State Public Service Commission released its home heating forecast for this winter.
This year, it's a mixed bag from the Public Service Commission saying there will be enough natural gas and electricity for this winter. But when it comes to prices, on average statewide, people will be paying more for natural gas.
Let's start with the price of electricity.
The average cost of New Yorkers' electric supply should be lower this winter according to the PSC. On average, residential customers in New York State will be paying $58 a month for the supply part of the bill. That is down 2% from last year.
While most people heat their homes with natural gas here in Western New York, David Bertola from National Grid said this November to March, National Grid's residential customers are expected to pay about a dollar more a month than they did last year for electricity.
"There's a supply cost, the cost of the commodity itself, which is forecasted to be about ten dollars lower over the cost of that five months, so that's two dollars. While delivery rates will increase $15 over those five months, which is 15 divided by five is three dollars, so that increase comes out to about a dollar a month for electricity," Bertola said.
If you're looking to save money, there are programs to help.
"National Grid offers discounts and incentives for residential customers who are looking to replace or upgrade their energy systems. All of that information is available at nationalgrid.us.com. There are appliances and devices that can qualify, including the installation of new heat pumps," Bertola said.
The PSC said gas bills are expected to go up with the average residential customer expected to pay $202 a month from November to March in New York State. That's up 11% from last year.
Locally if you have National Fuel, the average price per month is much lower at $112, according to a spokesperson for the company.
"We did predict an increase over last year, which as we all remember last year was exceedingly warm, was our third warmest winter on record. So there is an increase this year. We're looking at $560 over the five month period, which equates to about $112 a month, and that's, compared to last year, that's about a 13% increase," National Fuel spokesperson Karen Merkel said.
This is also based on what an average winter is like.
"If it's in tune with a more predictable Western New York winter and temperatures are colder than they were last year, we do predict an increase, but if you compare to two years ago, which was still a warmer winter, we're far below what customers paid two years ago," Merkel said.
National Fuel also has resources to help with energy costs.
