Residents concerned about heating oil, propane costs

GERMANTOWN — Citizens concerned about the nearly 80 percent hike in home heating oil costs over last year gathered at the town Activities Building Thursday evening for a give-and-take forum with local officials.

 On hand were Supervisor Roy Brown, Columbia County Office for the Aging Administrator Kary Jablonka, Aging Services Program Manager Patricia Moskaluk and Case Manager Jeri Adams.

Brown said he had invited five local oil suppliers to attend. Only one of the five expressed interest in attending, and that one failed to show.

However, a woman in the audience said that company had offered a lock-in program for the winter at a price of $4.74 to $4.84 a gallon. But the sign-up period, she said, available to past members only, lasted only a week and is now over.

According to figures from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, heating oil prices are currently averaging $4.707 a gallon in the Upper Hudson Valley, up 42 cents from May 12 and compared to $2.634 per gallon a year ago, for an increase change of 78.7 percent.

Over the past year, NYSERDA said, propane has shot up locally from $2.346 to $3.077 a gallon — a 31.2 percent increase — while kerosene has risen from $3.063 to $5.125, a 67.3 percent jump.

Brown said the Heating Energy Assistance Program figures for the coming winter have not been announced yet. No money has yet been designated, he said.

Last year, Jablonka said, the payments for the winter ranged from $120 to $540. These payments were made to households meeting the following household sizes and monthly maximum incomes:

• One person: $1,876
• Two persons: $2,454
• Three persons: $3,031
• Four persons: $3,069
• Five persons: $4,186
• Six persons: $4,763
• Seven persons: $4,871
• Eight persons: $4,980
• Nine persons: $5,088
• Ten persons: $5,196
• Eleven persons: $5,626
• Each additional person: Add $435

Jablonka said the 2008-2009 figures would be released some time in August, and that “we hope it’s more than last year.”

He said his office is “actively engaged in advocacy efforts with state legislators. This is about very real decisions people have to make.”

HEAP is a federal program, he said, in which the funds are allocated to the states, which sub-allocate them to the counties. In Columbia County, the funds are administered by the Department of Social Services, but the Office for the Aging handles them for persons 60 and over and for the disabled.

“As soon as we get the information, we send it to all the towns,” he said. “If you had it in previous years, the state mails the application to you.

“If you think you may be eligible, apply,” Jablonka said. The application process begins in November.

An audience member proposed a hypothetical situation of a family including a 58-year-old wage earner and four children with a total annual income of $18,000.

Jablonka suggested they could contact Emergency Assistance to Families at DSS.

In addition to HEAP, the Office for the Aging also offers WRAP, the Weatherization Referral and Packaging Program. WRAP “reduces energy costs for the low-income elderly by improving the energy efficiency and comfort of their homes while ensuring their health and safety,” according to information from the state Office for the Aging.

WRAP includes an energy audit, Jablonka said, and can provide such services as weatherstripping, replacement of hot water heaters and repair of broken storm windows and doors.

Attendees at the meeting also talked about how to get the word about these programs out to people. The news could be distributed through home health aides, Meals-on-Wheels, telephone bills, newspapers and other avenues, various people said.

Meanwhile, Brown said he would reach out to the oil companies to find out when their sign-up periods for lock-ins are.

“One week, customers only — that’s a little exasperating,” he said.

Another person asked if there are any government loans for environmentally-conscious window replacement and other improvements.

Brown said Assemblyman Marc Molinaro, R,C,I-Tivoli, told him discussions are being held on the topic, but as of now, nothing is being offered.

To reach reporter John Mason, call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail jmason@registerstar.com.