Natural Gas Prices are High,
                       What Can Customers Do?

Last winter, unseasonably warm temperatures and contributions from the Rate Stabilization Fund, helped control the natural gas bills of Hastings Utilities' customers. January 2006 was the warmest January ever since weather records have been kept.

Despite those factors, prices for wholesale natural gas were extremely expensive and some customers still had their highest heating bills ever. Supply contracts for the winter period of 2006-2007 are currently even higher than they were for last winter.

Unless prices ease, and if the winter weather is typical or unusually cold, customers may be faced with record billing amounts. If this is a concern for you, consider enrolling in HU's Budget Billing Program (see below).

Budget Billing / Automatic Bank Drafts

Hastings Utilities offers its customers several payment options that are quite popular, budget billing and automatic bank drafts. Each can give a customer "peace of mind" when away on travel or when planning monthly expenses.

Budget billing allows customers to receive a bill that they can financially plan for. For example, let us assume that a customer's total utility bill (for electric, gas, water and sanitary sewer) for the last twelve months totals $1,200. To figure the budget billing amount for the next eleven months the $1,200 total is divided by eleven. The budget billing payment for the next eleven months becomes $110.00 per month or ($1,200 / 11). Each of the next eleven months, our customer would receive a bill showing their actual usage. The budget payment amount would be $110.00. Also noted on each of those bills would be the difference between the budget billing amount and what the actual utility usage has been.

After the first eleven months of each budget billing year, if there is a balance due Hastings Utilities, that balance plus the usage of the twelfth month is the utility bill for the 12th month. If the customer has overpaid Hastings Utilities during the budget billing year, the overpayment will be credited toward future monthly bills.

Qualifying customers may sign up for budget billing any time throughout the year. There are certain qualifiers for a customer to become eligible for budget billing. The customer must have been at the billing address for at least one year. Also, the customer must have a zero balance owed on their account.

Automatic bank drafts allow for bill payment without a bill becoming delinquent. The amount is automatically withdrawn from the customer's bank account. Many individuals who spend a lot of time away from home use this payment option.

"Share Some Warmth" Program

Developed after the winter of 2000 which included a combination of record low temperatures and record high natural gas prices, The "Share Some Warmth" program helps elderly citizens on "fixed incomes" pay unusually high utility bills.

Local service agencies that assist the elderly developed the criteria that eligibility depend upon:

• The recipient must be a customer of HU 60 years of age or older and/or handicapped.

• The recipient must have a delinquent utility bill subject to cutoff.

• The recipient is unable to qualify under other government assistance programs.

• Bill payment assistance runs from December 1st to April 30th.

There are several ways that individuals can donate to the program. One-time cash donations are accepted. Checks should be made out to the Salvation Army/Share Some Warmth (or note Share Some Warmth in the "memo" area of the check). Also customers can add an amount to their monthly bills from HU. Customers can add the amount by visiting the business office at HU and signing an authorization card. Or, an authorization card can be mailed to the customer. Simply call 463-1371, extension 203 to request an authorization card. The monthly "add-on" amount can be discontinued whenever the customer so requests.

For information on applying for "Share Some Warmth" funds, please contact the local Salvation Army at 463-0529.

Electric Heat

Certainly this winter, electric heat is the more economical option. Natural gas is at, or near, all-time record high prices. If you have older inefficient heating equipment, now would be an excellent time to either install a more efficient natural gas furnace or to consider switching to electric heat.
Learn more about cash rebates offered by Hastings Utilities for installing qualifying electric heat pumps and furnaces.

Conservation

Making your home more energy efficient is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to maximize your energy dollars. The key to achieving these savings in your home is a whole-house energy efficiency plan. To take a whole-house approach, view your home as an energy system with independent parts. For example, your heating system is not just a furnace - it’s a heat-delivery system that starts at the furnace and delivers heat throughout your home using a network of ducts. Even a top-of-the-line, energy-efficient furnace will burn a lot of fuel if the ducts, walls, attic, windows, and doors are not insulated and leak. Taking a whole-house approach to saving energy ensures that dollars you invest to save energy are spent wisely.

The U.S. Department of Energy has created a comprehensive booklet detailing practical solutions for saving energy throughout your home, from inexpensive ways to stop costly air leaks to how to shop for windows that will drastically reduce your energy bill.  View the Energy Savers booklet (pdf 4 MB) now. To request a copy of the Energy Savers booklet please contact Hastings Utilities at 463-1371 ext. 203.