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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20081016Information.pdfPr e p a r e f o r H i g h H e a t i n g Co s t s T h i s W i n t e r In t e r m o u n t a i n G a s c u s t o m e r s s h o u l d e x p e c t t o p a y m o r e t h a n l a s t y e a r t o he a t t h e i r h o m e s a n d b u s i n e s s e s w i t h n a t u r a l g a s d u r i n g t h e u p c o m i n g wi n t e r h e a t i n g s e a s o n . As s u m i n g a n o r m a l w i n t e r h e a t i n g s e a s o n , t h e c o s t t o h e a t y o u r h o m e a n d wa t e r i s e x p e c t e d t o i n c r e a s e b y a p p r o x i m a t e l y $ 9 1 o v e r t h e l a s t h e a t i n g se a s o n b a s e d o n a v e r a g e c u s t o m e r u s a g e . Cu s t o m e r s a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o b u d g e t f o r t h e e x p e c t e d i n c r e a s e i n n a t u r a l ga s c o s t s , a s w e l l a s t a k e o t h e r s t e p s t o b e t t e r m a n a g e t h e i r h o m e e n e r g y co s t s . Al t h o u g h t h e p r i c e o f n a t u r a l g a s i s h i g h e r t h i s y e a r , i t s t i l i s o n e o f t h e mo s t a f f o r d a b l e e n e r g y s o u r c e s t o h e a t y o u r h o m e a n d w a t e r . Th e e s t i m a t e d c o s t t o h e a t y o u r h o m e t h i s w i n t e r ( N o v e m b e r - M a r c h ) w i t h na t u r a l g a s i s $ 1 . 1 9 p e r t h e r m , o r a t o t a l o f $ 6 8 5 . Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n c o n s e r v a t i o n a n d o t h e r e n e r g y - r e l a t e d p r o g r a m s , pl e a s e s e e d e t a i l s i n s i d e . ~ti (3 O'c 'æ:c $6 8 5 . He a t i n g S e a s o n ( N o v . - M a r . ) 20 0 3 - 2 0 0 8 a c t u a l a v e r a g e w i n t e r s p a c e a n d w a t e r h e a t i n g co s t , a n d e s t i m a t e d 2 0 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 w i n t e r s p a c e a n d w a t e r he a t i n g c o s t b a s e d o n p r o p o s e d p r i c e i n c r e a s e a n d n o r m a l wi n t e r w e a t h e r . Y o u r c o s t m a y v a r y . 'E s t l m a t e b a s e d o n p r o p o s e d p r i ç e s . rA I n ~Ø a s C o m p a n y Cu s t o m e r S e r v i c e 20 8 - 3 7 7 - 6 8 4 0 (B o i s e / T r e a s u r e V a l l e y ) 1- 8 0 0 - 5 4 8 - 3 6 7 9 (O t h e r A r e a s ) Na t u r a l Ga s Pr i c i n g 7: 0 0 a . m . - 7 : 0 0 p . m . Mo n d a y - F r i d a y ww w . i n t g a s . c o m Ma i n t a i n Y o u r H e a t i n g S y s t e m 70 % - 8 0 % o f a t y p i c a l h o m e ' s n a t u r a l g a s u s e i s f o r h e a t i n g . . C h a n g e o r c l e a n f u r n a c e f i l t e r s o n c e a m o n t h d u r i n g h e a t i n g s e a s o n . . H a v e y o u r f u r n a c e o r b o i l e r t u n e d b y a q u a l i f i e d t e c h n i c i a n o n c e a y e a r t o he l p i m p r o v e y o u r s y s t e m ' s o p e r a t i n g e f f c i e n c y . P l u s , y o u r f u r n a c e i s on e - t h i r d l e s s l i k e l y t o b r e a k d o w n . .I f y o u h a v e a n o l d h e a t i n g s y s t e m , c o n s i d e r r e p l a c i n g i t w i t h a h i g h e f f c i e n c y sy s t e m . B y u p g r a d i n g y o u c o u l d s a v e 1 5 % t o 2 4 % o n h e a t i n g c o s t s . Tu r n D o w n Y o u r Th e r m o s t a t Th e e a s i e s t a n d m o s t e c o n o m i c a l w a y t o c u t e n e r g y c o s t s i s t o a d j u s t y o u r th e r m o s t a t . Y o u c o u l d c u t h e a t i n g b i l l s b y a s m u c h a s 1 0 % p e r y e a r b y t u r n i n g yo u r t h e r m o s t a t b a c k b y 1 0 % t o 1 5 % f o r e i g h t o r m o r e h o u r s p e r d a y . . S e t t h e r m o s t a t s b e t w e e n 6 5 " F a n d 7 0 ' F d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r , a n d t o 5 8 ' F wh e n a w a y f r o m t h e h o u s e f o r f o u r o r m o r e h o u r s . F o r h o m e s w i t h e l d e r l y pe o p l e o r c h i l d r e n , w a r m e r t e m p e r a t u r e s a r e r e c o m m e n d e d . . F o r g r e a t e r t e m p e r a t u r e c o n t r o l , u s e a p r o g r a m m a b l e o r s e t b a c k t h e r m o s t a t . Tu r n D o w n W a t e r H e a t e r S e t t i n g Th e w a t e r h e a t e r a c c o u n t s f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 5 % o f t h e a v e r a g e h o u s e h o l d ' s en e r g y u s e . U s i n g i t w i s e l y c a n s a v e y o u m o n e y . . T o l o w e r e n e r g y c o s t w i t h o u t s a c r i f i c i n g c o m f o r t , s e t w a t e r h e a t e r te m p e r a t u r e t o 1 2 0 ' F . . R e p l a c e o l d t a n k w a t e r h e a t e r s w i t h m o d e l s t h a t h a v e a n e n e r g y - e f f c i e n c y fa c t o r o f . 6 4 o r g r e a t e r . Ma k e W i n d o w s W o r k f o r Y o u . O n s u n n y d a y s , o p e n d r a p e r i e s a n d b l i n d s t o l e t i n t h e s u n ' s w a r m t h . . C l o s e d r a p e r i e s a n d b l i n d s a t n i g h t t o i n s u l a t e a g a i n s t c o l d a i r . . B e s u r e s t o r m w i n d o w s a r e i n s t a l l e d d u r i n g h e a t i n g s e a s o n . St o p D r a f t s a n d A i r l e a k s By a d d i n g i n s u l a t i o n a n d s e a l i n g a i r l e a k s , y o u c o u l d c u t a s m u c h a s 4 0 % f r o m yo u r e n e r g y b i l L . G u a r d a g a i n s t h e a t l o s s b y s e a l i n g l e a k s a r o u n d d o o r s , w i n d o w s , an d a t h e r o p e n i n g s s u c h a s p i p e s a n d d u c t s . . W e a t h e r i z e y o u r h o m e w i t h c a u l k i n g a n d w e a t h e r s t r i p p i n g t o s e a l le a k s . . B e s u r e a t t i c a n d b a s e m e n t h a v e r e c o m m e n d e d l e v e l s o f i n s u l a t i o n . . A f t e r y o u h a v e c a u l k e d a n d s e a l e d b y p a s s e s , a d d i n g i n s u l a t i o n c a n h e l p y o u re d u c e e n e r g y u s e a n d s a v e o n f u t u r e f u e l b i l l s . Ke e p W a r m i n W i n t e r . W a r m a i r r i s e s , s o u s e r e g i s t e r s t o d i r e c t w a r m a i r f l o w a c r o s s t h e f l o o r . . K e e p h o t a n d c o l d a i r r e g i s t e r s f r e e o f d u s t a n d d o n o t b l o c k w i t h c a r p e t or f u r n i t u r e . Sh o w e r h e a d I F a u c e t s . In s t a l l w a t e r f l o w r e s t r i c t o r s i n s h o w e r h e a d s a n d f a u c e t s . . R e p a i r l e a k y f a u c e t s . A l e a k th a t f i l l s a c o f f e e c u p i n 1 0 m i n u t e s w a s t e s 3, 2 8 0 g a l l o n s o f w a t e r a y e a r . Wa s h e r I D r y e r . R u n w a s h i n g m a c h i n e s a n d c l o t h e s d r y e r s w i t h f u l l lo a d s o n l y . . C o n s i d e r w a s h i n g w i t h c o l d w a t e r . . R e p l a c e o l d , o u t d a t e d a p p l i a n c e s w i t h h i g h e f f c i e n c y m o d e l s . Le v e l P a y a n d A s s i s t a n c e Wi t h l e v e l P a y , y o u r e n e r g y b i l i s m o r e p r e d i c t a b l e ' a n d b u d g e t f r i e n d l y . Wh i l e y o u w i l l c o n t i n u e t o s e e c h a n g e s i n y o u r b i l l b e c a u s e o f c h a n g e s i n p r i c e -l e v e l P a y w i l l h e l p l e v e l o u t y o u r m o n t h l y g a s b i l L . le v e l P a y h e l p s r e d u c e fl u c t u a t i o n b r o u g h t o n b y c h a n g e s i n t h e w e a t h e r a n d g a s c o m m o d i t y p r i c e s . Be o n e o f t h e m o r e t h a n 4 9 , 0 0 0 I n t e r m o u n t a i n G a s c u s t o m e r s e n j o y i n g o u r le v e l P a y p r o g r a m b y e n r o l l i n g t o d a y . T o s i g n u p , c a l l o u r C u s t o m e r S e r v i c e nu m b e r o n t h e b a c k o f t h i s b r o c h u r e . So m e p e o p l e h a v e d i f f c u l t y p a y i n g t h e i r h e a t i n g b i l l s a n d m a y b e e l i g i b l e f o r he a t i n g a s s i s t a n c e . If y o u f i n d y o u r s e l f i n t h i s s i t u a t i o n , p l e a s e c o n t a c t o u r Cu s t o m e r S e r v i c e a n d t h e y w i l d i r e c t y o u t o t h e h e a t i n g a s s i s t a n c e p r o g r a m s i n yo u r a r e a o r v i s i t o u r w e b s i t e a t w w w . i n t g a s . c o m f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n . Le v e l O u t Y o u r M o n t h l y G a s B i l s Th e f o l l o w i n g g r a p h i s a n i l l u s t r a t i o n o f h o w a c u s t o m e r ' s m o n t h l y p a y m e n t lo o k s o n l e v e l P a y a n d w h a t i t w o u l d l o o k l i k e w i t h o u t l e v e l P a y . Mo n t h l y P a y m e n t C o m p a r i s o n $2 0 0 On e o f t h e m o s t s i m p l e a n d l o w - c o s t w a y s t o r e d u c e y o u r h e a t i n g b i l l i s t o in s t a l l a p r o g r a m m a b l e t h e r m o s t a t . It a l l o w s y o u t o a d j u s t t h e t i m e s y o u t u r n on t h e h e a t a c c o r d i n g t o a p r e s e t s c h e d u l e . A s a r e s u l t , t h e e q u i p m e n t d o e s n ' t op e r a t e a s m u c h w h e n y o u a r e a s l e e p o r w h e n t h e h o u s e o r p a r t o f t h e h o u s e is n o t o c c u p i e d . . . s a v i n g y o u m o n e y . Pr o g r a m m a b l e t h e r m o s t a t s a u t o m a t i c a l l y a d j u s t y o u r h o m e ' s t e m p e r a t u r e se t t i n g s , a l l o w i n g y o u t o s a v e e n e r g y w h i l e y o u ' r e a w a y o r s l e e p i n g . Th e y : . a r e m o r e c o n v e n i e n t a n d a c c u r a t e t h a n m a n u a l th e r m o s t a t s a n d i m p r o v e yo u r h o m e ' s c o m f o r t . . c o n t a i n n o m e r c u r y . . s a v e e n e r g y a n d s a v e m o n e y o n u t i l i t y b i l s - w h e n u s e d p r o p e r l y , a b o u t $1 0 0 / y e a r . ~ u s e l e s s e n e r g y a n d a r e b e t t e r f o r t h e e n v i r o n m e n t . Pr o g r a m m a b l e t h e r m o s t a t s e a r n t h e E N E R G Y S T A R r a t i n g b y me e t i n g s t r i c t e n e r g y e f f c i e n c y g u i d e l i n e s s e t b y t h e g o v e r n m e n t . T h e s e u n i t s sa v e e n e r g y b y o f f e r i n g c o n v e n i e n t , p r e - p r o g r a m m e d t e m p e r a t u r e s e t t i n g s - s e t t i n g s t h a t t r y t o a n t i c i p a t e w h e n i t ' s c o n v e n i e n t f o r y o u t o s c a l e b a c k on h e a t i n g o r c o o l i n g . If y o u a r e l i k e m a n y h o m e o w n e r s a n d w o r k o u t s i d e th e h o m e d u r i n g t h e d a y a n d h a v e a d i f f e r e n t s c h e d u l e o n t h e w e e k e n d , a pr o g r a m m a b l e t h e r m o s t a t c a n o f f e r m a n y b e n e f i t s , a n d t h e r e t u r n o n y o u r in v e s t m e n t i s u s u a l l y w i t h i n o n e y e a r . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i f y o u a r e h o m e th r o u g h o u t t h e d a y , s e v e n d a y s a w e e k , t h e n a p r o g r a m m a b l e t h e r m o s t a t w i l l of f e r m o r e l i m i t e d b e n e f i t s . So u r c e : w w w . e n e r g y s t a r . g o v n making a referral to the AREA AGENCY ON G, please include the following information: Name of the elderly person Address Phone number (if possible) Reason you feel the person needs help Below: Offce Addresses & 24 Hour Toll Free Referral Numbers AREA AGENCY ON AGING i / Ada County ir Solutions W. State Street, Suite 120 " Idaho 83703 7777 or 345-7783 seniorsolutions.bz itain Home / Boise / Weiser & Area Cities Community Resources est Idaho ir, Idaho 83672 :asure Valley: 549-2411 or 1-800-859-0324 Falls / Magic Valley Areas ie of Southern Idaho lox 1238 Falls, Idaho 83303 ~122 or 1-800-574-8656 eiio / Southeastern Idaho Areas east Idaho Council of Governments ast Center ello, Idaho 83201 032, Ext. 16 or 1-800-526-8129 Falls / Eastern Idaho Areas 'n Idaho Community Action Partnership ct Person: Emily Hoyt onstitution Way Falls, Idaho 83402 391 or 1-800-632-4813 The Gatekeeper Program Works... Without it, many of ourvulerable elderly would never get the attention or assistance they need. INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY 02/08 Assistance for Senior Citizens Chances are you know one. A senior citizen living alone, perhaps without all of the vim and vigor of eadier years, but certainy not without the pride of being independent. In their advancing years, seniors some- ties need a watchfl eye and a helping hand. That's why Intermountain Gas supports the Gatekeeper Program. Please be aware of seniors and their condition. If you see changes in their appearance, physical or mental behav- ior, or living conditions, please call the Commssion on Aging or a local Senior Center and help wil be on the way. INTERMOUNTAIN GAS THE GATEKEEPER PROGRAM Gatekeeper referral to the Area gency on Aging can provide ,sistance with the following: · Legal Services . Nutrition · Home Repair · Chore Services . Counseling · Case Management · Health Care . Housing · Employment · Transportation · Social Security · Food Stamps . Personal appearance · Changes in grooming habits . Conditon of home · Exterior and/or interior in poor repair · Old newspapers lying around, calendar on wrong month or year · Litte or no food · Strong odors · Many pets · Many empty alcohol containers . Little or no understanding of what is being said or done · Confused · Disoriented · Inappropriate responses · Forgetful · Repetitiveness while talking . Substance abuse · Alcohol · Other drugs . Emotional health / depression · Dejected - states, "I don't care, no use going on" · Complains of not eating or sleeping - early morning awakening · Appears anxious, fidgety · Anger and hostility directed at self, you or another .0 Recent loss through death of relative/friend · Death of pet( s) · Suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of older person . Physical losses · Loss of hearing, sight · Inability to move easily · Chronic physical illness · Many medicine bottles . Economic and social problems · Low income - poor · Confusion about money · Unable to go outside to grocery or drug store · Lack of social relationships · No mention of family or friends · MaY'state "no one cares"