Heating Oil Prices Drop While Saving Money For Local Residents
In addition to the lower prices Americans are paying for gasoline, further savings are being made over the winter months, thanks to the falling price of oil. Indeed, when east coast residents go to top up their oil tank home heaters, they will enjoy billions of dollars worth of savings. Roughly 6.2 million homes in America, primarily on the east coast, depend on heating oil during the cold weather. The area that spans from Maine to Maryland accounts for approximately eighty-seven percent of heating oil usage.
Despite the recent fracking boom, area consumers have not experienced huge changes in the price of natural gas. Peco customers have seen prices rise this year to $0.57/Ccf, from $0.54/Ccf the previous year. The price has dropped slightly for PGW customers, to $1.37/Ccf from $1.41/Ccf the previous year. For many years, oil has been far more expensive than natural gas for heating a home. This has posed a financial obstacle to homeowners, who often use over a thousand gallons of oil each winter.
Heating Oil Drops To An All-Time Low:
Notwithstanding, across the world, crude oil prices have dropped. This has led to the price of heating oil in America falling $1.10, from twelve months ago, to less than $3 per gallon. Heating oil prices have not been this low for almost half a decade. Relative to average winter usage, a dollar reduction in price could translate to about $3 billion of savings for residents of the northeast. This allows individual homeowners to enjoy savings worth hundreds of dollars. People who usually dread receiving their utility bills will find this news a welcome relief. Natural gas is still a less expensive fuel nationwide, however in Pennsylvania, average gas prices are more costly now for residential consumers.
Regional oil brokers will also benefit from the sharp fall in prices. Frequently, these businesses are small, family run enterprises that have been squeezed for years, by a growing network of natural gas mains. Reduced prices mean lower costs for filling trucks, and increased probability that consumers will settle bills promptly.
The drop in prices has allowed some relief from major budgetary concern for lots of homeowners this winter. In Pennsylvania, the circumstances are especially rewarding because this state depends on heating oil heavily. Pennsylvania has restricted natural gas access via pipelines, so almost seventy percent of homeowners use oil for warmth. As winter sets in, heating oil companies in PA have been busier than ever.
R.F. Ohl is a family-owned and operated business for over 30 years. We deliver competitively priced, high quality, home heating oil in northeastern Pennsylvania. Our friendly and professional staff prioritizes client’s needs while delivering oil in a time-efficient manner. Call us today!