State offers toll-free number to help residents with heat bills

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Wyomingites facing mounting heating bills because of higher natural gas prices can obtain financial help by dialing a toll-free number, Gov. Jim Geringer announced Wednesday. "We want to make sure we get the word out the best we can, that there is help," the governor said.

The telephone number connects callers to a state official who can refer them to programs that help with utility bills, home insulation and furnace repairs and subsidies for residents with medical or family crises who would not otherwise qualify for aid.

"The statewide increase in natural gas prices will affect many low-income and fixed-income families, as well as our most vulnerable citizens: Those with disabilities, young children and the elderly," Geringer said.

The number is (800) 457-3659.

The program manager for the Department of Family Services' Low Income Energy Assistance Program, Heather Babbitt, will serve as the main contact person, he said.

"We are seeing very steep price increases and we are anticipating a very serious and difficult winter for both business and residential customers," said Steve Furtney of the Wyoming Public Service Commission.

Some residents might pay 50 percent more than last winter, he said.

Because of deregulation, the commission can only make sure the companies are only passing on what it costs to purchase the gas, he said.

"We anticipate we're going to hear a lot of complaints from customers about this," Furtney said.

Despite Wyoming being a large producer of natural gas, prices are set regionally and nationally by supply and demand, he said.

Supplies are tight, which has led to higher prices, Furtney said.

"The low prices of the last couple years ... have not been encouraging much new production," he said.

The continuing strong economy, and especially high computer usage, has buoyed demands for more electricity, and many power companies have opted for natural gas-fired plants, he said.

In addition, the extremely hot summer in many parts of the nation created high demand for electricity and prevented companies from building up their gas supplies, he said.

Storage is down nationally about 10 percent, he said.

"There's no particular reason necessarily for the market to drop prices," said John Nunley, state energy program manager. "If you're on natural gas or propane and you're buying it and keeping it in bottled form such as at ranch locations, then you go ahead and purchase that gas today even as high as prices are."

http://www.trib.com/HOMENEWS/WYO/AANaturalGasPrices5.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), October 07, 2000