Heating costs dropping

Published 12:00 am Friday, September 21, 2001

Alliant Energy officials say rising natural-gas supply and falling wholesale costs could add up to some relief for heating customers this winter.

Friday, September 21, 2001

Alliant Energy officials say rising natural-gas supply and falling wholesale costs could add up to some relief for heating customers this winter.

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&uot;At this point, as we enter the heating season, we’re cautiously optimistic that our customers will experience lower heating bills compared to last winter,&uot; said Karmen Wilhelm, spokeswoman for Alliant Energy.

Natural gas supplies are up, Wilhelm said, and wholesale prices are 30 percent lower than a year ago. Alliant plans to pass those savings on to its 10,000 Minnesota natural gas customers.

&uot;The market looks stable, and the futures market is actually trending lower,&uot; Wilhelm said. &uot;No one can say for certain, but it appears, if nothing drastic happens, that the coming winter will be easier for our natural gas customers.&uot;

Wilhelm said last winter was the coldest in 106 years in the continental U.S., driving the demand for natural gas to record levels. Supply and delivery problems resulted, and prices spiked up.

&uot;There was very little break in the record-cold temperatures last winter,&uot; she said. &uot;It was definitely an unusual scenario that we don’t think will happen again.&uot;

Every year, more than $13 billion in energy is wasted due to air leaking through holes and cracks in American homes, Wilhelm said. By taking a few inexpensive winterizing measures, customers can save as much as 20 percent on their heating bills for and average investment of $50.

Here are a few weatherizing tips from Theresa Mulford, managing director of Alliant’s customer information service:

* Caulk around the edges of window and door frames, both inside and out.

* On the exterior of the home, caulk along the top of the foundation where the concrete meets the wooden sill plate.

* Caulk around other openings in the exterior, including water faucets, electrical outlet boxes, pipe entrances, air conditioner hoses or gas pipes.

* Install storm windows or use plastic film on the inside and/or outside of windows.

* Tighten windowpanes with new glazing, and seal movable parts with rope caulk.

* Add foam weather stripping to the inside of doorjambs, and install a rubber of vinyl sweep along the bottom of exterior doors.

* Install foam gaskets behind electrical switch plates and outlet covers, and use child safety plugs in all unused outlets.

* Weather-strip the edges of the attic opening, and add insulation to the back of the attic door or hatch.

* Change or clean furnace filters monthly as needed.

* Install or upgrade attic insulation. A ceiling or attic with six inches or less of insulation should be upgraded to a minimum of 12-15 inches.