Home heating prices stretch budgets of residents, agencies

The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that despite diving prices at the pump, area residents are still looking at home heating prices well above last year’s and that homeowners and agencies are feeling the bite.

“We and other utilities had acquired gas during those summer months, assuming that trend was going to continue,” he said. “This year really was an anomaly.”

Propane gas ranges from $2.29 per gallon to $2.79 per gallon, depending on the company, said Val Stone, community services coordinator for the Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency. Fuel oil is about $2.89 per gallon.

The Michigan Public Service Commission allocated $72,600 to the 10-county agency, down from $104,649 the year before, said Kris Brady, NMCAA community services director. Of that, $31,000 is designated for Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie and Kalkaska counties, Stone said. All of it already has been accounted for this year.

One of the resources they list for help with heating is the Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency.

The photo is Tweddle Farmhouse by jimflix … best I could do for a home heating related photo!