[Cromwell, CT] Tomorrow, the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration will release its annual “Winter Fuels Outlook.” As with years past, we expect these national figures will be inaccurate for Connecticut as the DOE statistics are national averages with some regional view. As the data will not be specific to Connecticut, stories written only from national data will be misleading.

 

Before you run a wire story that will likely give a mistaken impression for your readers, we urge you to contact Gene Guilford, president of the Independent Connecticut Petroleum Association (ICPA), for analysis that more accurately reflects the reality of heating costs in the State of Connecticut.

 

He can be reached directly at 860-613-2041 or via email at gene@icpa.org.

 

In the meantime, below is a snapshot of last year’s somewhat inaccurate EIA forecast and the Connecticut reality.

 

·        Home Heating Oil: A 50 cent/gallon increase (to $3.89/gallon) in retail heating oil prices over the previous winter. The Connecticut reality: $2.67 for a 140,000 BTU gallon, or $1.22 a gallon less than the forecast.

·        Natural Gas: An increase (to $14.82/MCF) in retail natural gas prices. The Connecticut reality: Natural gas at just under $7.00/MCF.

·        Electricity: Connecticut has the highest electric rates in the lower 48 states.  CL&P’s rate is 19.14 cents/ kilowatt hour.  In BTU equivalent to heating oil, heating a home with electricity would cost $7.85 per gallon, the most expensive way to heat a home.