Why Feed the Beast?

There’s a beast in your home… and it’s hungry. If you don’t watch it, the beast will gobble up your family budget this winter. It gives you chills to think about feeding the beast, but you’ll be left in the cold if you don’t.

How high will fuel prices rise?

With hurricanes disrupting the nation’s gas supply and uncertainty from the Middle East scaring the commodities speculators into pushing prices higher, it’s going to be more expensive than ever to feed the beast. According to the Energy Information Administration’s Winter Outlook, “This winter, tight global oil markets and elevated crude oil prices are expected to result in higher heating oil, natural gas and propane prices.” How much?

+15% for Natural Gas

+28% for Heating Oil

+22% for Propane

Gas and oil price increases directly affect electric heat as well since they fuel the combustion turbines used by electric utilities for peak loads.

Is it time to retire the beast?

© 2004 Service Roundtable