Cost of Heating Winter 2005 to 2006 Tips on How to Save Money

So you thought gas prices were bad? Well, it ain\'t over yet. To add insult to injury, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) indicated that the average American household is expected to pay up to 70% more for heating this winter over last year\'s prices.

Consumers, who use natural gas will see the biggest hit, with an increase from $12.60 per gallon to $16.64 per gallon - a jump of 32.1 percent. Heating oil consumers will see an increase of 30.6 percent with prices jumping from $1.93 per gallon to $2.52. The Department of Energy expects the average American household to pay between $350 - $378 more for heating. These increases are expected to affect the retail industry with economist expecting a significant decrease in Halloween and winter shopping.

Amidst all this gloom, there is some good news. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a 60 percent chance of warmer than normal weather in the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, north Texas, northern New Mexico, southern, eastern Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii.

So what can you do? Here are some energy savings tips:

Make sure you have adequate insulation. According to energy auditors, one of the biggest ways, we squander money on heating is not having adequate insulation around water heaters. Make sure your water heater has an insulating blanket.

Make sure the air filters are clean.

Make sure all windows are closed.

Seal up any air leaks in your house. Check areas such as unfinished spaces and utility cut-throughs for pipes.

If you have a fireplace, take it easy. They are nice to look at on a cold day but they are gas guzzlers.

If you\'re struggling to pay your gas bill this winter, PG&E has programs that will help. Log on to www.pge.com/rebates/rebatefinder/ for more information.

The author is the owner of the information-rich website http://www.poorcreditgenie.com. The website offers free advice on how to rebuild credit and manage debt. The site also features numerous articles and news stories on credit reports, credit cards and bankruptcy.