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Home Heating Oil Will Be High This Winter

BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― If you think high gas and grocery prices are gouging your wallet, just wait until you fill the oil tank to heat your home.

Suzanne Collins reports the cost of that type of fuel is way up over last year.

Even though it's warm now, oil tanks are being filled in anticipation of cool weather. But be ready for a shock when you see the bill.

Last September, a gallon of home heating oil cost $2.65 a gallon.  Today it's $4.  The average homeowner will pay $600 more this winter.

"The industry is recommending to all heating oil consumers to contact their oil company, whoever their supplier has been, and work out some kind of payment plan and do it early.  Don't wait," said Jack Tevis with Tevis Oil.

The only good news is heating oil was even higher in July.  But that isn't much relief for seniors on a fixed income.
 
"It's just a bad situation for anybody to have to pay that much difference. Like gas prices, it's terrible," said Gilbert Hoff.

Tevis Oil has recommended conservation to its customers, like turning down the heat.

"Every one degree you turn a thermostat back saves 30%," said Tevis.

Using space heaters can help keep the room you're using warm, while the thermostat is kept lower.

"We're going to try all these because we have to cut down.  We are in our 80s both of us and we're on a budget. We have to cut back somewhere," said Ida Mae Hoff.

For families who just can't manage, there are grants from the Maryland Energy Assistance Program.  The Fuel Fund can also help in an emergency, but they have a lot less to give this year.

Last year, the Fuel Fund has 2.3 million to distribute. This year, it's down to just one million.

There is a fund-raiser for the Fuel Fund at the Havana Club Thursday night. BGE has agreed to match the money raised.  

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