NSTAR heating costs going up?

[moireach.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming I'm far from the only person whose heat is provided by NSTAR natural gas. I'm hoping someone can help me understand why prices are up this winter over last:

The useful little comparison chart on the back of my current bill shows that natural gas prices per therm were $1.24 this January, as opposed to 97.9 cents in January 2008. I'd assumed that the plummet in oil prices would be driving down energy costs in general, and some very cursory googling seems to show a big drop (~50%) in natural gas costs over the past year, too. Is this something NSTAR can decide arbitrarily, or is this the actual legitimate cost to them? (I get suspicious, because of things like airlines still charging fuel surcharges, despite the huge drop in fuel costs, etc.) If it is something they can set, has anyone had any luck trying to talk them into a lower rate, a la cable companies?

It's frustrating that even with NSTAR's delivery charges down, and with pretty strenuous attempts on our part to keep heating costs down (we have a timer on the thermostat, vacuum-insulated windows, have blocked off rooms, used plastic window seal, keep the heat low, etc etc), the bills keep going up.

Comments

Re: NSTAR-funded insulation

[thebinturong.livejournal.com]

Not to be defeatist, but something more money based would probably be more compelling. I suppose the vacancy rate is higher than its been, but then again in this case the landlord's wife gets a broker's fee when she gets another tenant. Well I'll just see how it goes.

Re: NSTAR-funded insulation

[dominika-kretek.livejournal.com]

That's so illegal. Owners cannot collect broker's fees. I am not a lawyer, but I'm pretty sure, "It wasn't me, it was my wife!" is not going to work as a defense here.

Re: NSTAR-funded insulation

[thebinturong.livejournal.com]

Oh I didn't say it was legal =) However it's still cheaper rent than alot of places, and it has its benefits, but staying toasty warm in winter is not one of them.