Watching Out For You (continued)

To get a feel for how low prices have dropped, last summer on July 3, the price of natural gas peaked at $13.51 per 10 therms. Several months ago, natural gas hit its lowest price in six years at $3.25 per 10 therms. The price as of June 29 shows a slight increase, to $3.94. After what amounted to an incredible surge in prices starting early in 2008, prices have dropped by more than half this past spring and seem to be holding up in the early weeks of summer 2009. Although prices seem to be ticking up, you don’t need to go farther than any gas station to notice the price differences from last summer. Energy traders have predicted that the market has bottomed out and have started buying energy futures, which could be the reason we’re seeing the slight increase in prices.

The bottom line for you?
Now is the time to consider securing a fixed-price product while prices are still low.

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Imagine if we had to buy staples like milk or bread, the same way suppliers purchase energy. It might sound something like this:

Customer: Hi. I’d like to buy a loaf of bread.
Merchant: The price is $5.50.
Customer: Okay, I’ll take it.
Merchant: Sorry, the price just changed to $5.75
Customer: OK
Merchant: $5.80.
Customer: I’ll tak-
Merchant: Wait…$5.90.
Customer: OK, OK. I’ll take it.
Merchant: It’s yours.
Customer: Thank you!
Merchant: Too bad you didn’t wait. The price just dropped to $5.45.
Customer: Arrgh!

This is, of course, an exaggeration. No one would ever pay $5.90 for a loaf of bread!

Gateway Energy helps to take the "Arrgh!" out of shopping for energy by providing a service that helps you fix the price of your energy for up to two years. So relax and let Gateway Energy deal with the "Arrgh!" Call (800) 313-8333 to inquire about our fixed prices. Or visit us at www.gesc.com.

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Select your utility to sign up for paperless billing

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Featured Product (continued)

The Lux Everything Stat Programmable Thermostat comes with too many features to list, so check them all out here.

…If you want to see how to install and operate a programmable thermostat, check out this video.

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Energy-Saving Tips (continued)

Good news, though. Many of the things you did to prepare your home for the winter will prepare you for the summer. If you caulked your windows or installed new or replacement ones, they will help keep the cool air in just like they helped to keep the warm air from escaping during the winter. If your house felt a little drafty this winter, then it might be time to weatherstrip or caulk leaky doors and windows.

Here are some other handy tips to keep your home cool this summer, so you can use less and spend less. 1. Programmable Thermostat
If you have central air conditioning, a great way to save energy and money is by installing a programmable thermostat. These easy-to-install devices allow you to set your air conditioner to warmer temperatures during the hours you are not home or in the evening and early morning when it is cooler outside. (See our product profile for more detail). Programmable thermostats benefit you all year long because they can be used with your furnace during the winter, providing even more savings. If you already have a programmable thermostat, now is the time to review your settings. Summer schedules almost always vary from winter schedules. Late spring and early summer allow you to keep your A/C at a warmer setting since you can open windows or use fans at night when the outside air is cool. Keep a close eye on the time you spend home vs. the time you are out and about. Or, if you have multi-zone thermostats, make a note of where you are at what time of day. Make sure your settings reflect this. Don’t air condition bedrooms during the day, if no one is there until the evening. Click here to see our pick for best programmable thermostat. 2. Insulation
The Alliance to Save Energy says the easiest and most cost-effective way to insulate your home is to add insulation in your attic. If you have less than 6 or 7 inches of insulation, you could probably benefit from more. Most homes should have 6 to 10 inches of insulation. 3. Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFL)
Replace your five most-used light bulbs with compact flourescent lightbulbs. 95% of the energy used with an incandescent light bulb goes into heating the bulb, adding unwanted heat to your home. CFLs use two-thirds less energy and last up to 10 times longer. Use dimmers, timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CFLs contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing - approximately 5 milligrams - a hundred times less mercury than found in a single old-style glass thermometer. No mercury is released when the lamps are intact or in use and, if disposed of properly, mercury in CFLs should not be a safety hazard. 4. Fans and Dehumidifiers
Install ceiling fans or drag out those window fans. At night, when the outside air cools, ventilate your home with fans instead of A/C whenever possible. Urvashi Rangan, a senior scientist and policy analyst at Consumer Reports’ “Greener Choices,” says that ceiling fans can reduce the temperature in a room about 6 or 7 degrees. Dehumidifiers also help to increase comfort levels. Used along with fans, they reduce the humidity, help to maintain a steady airflow and cost less to run because they consume less energy than air conditioners. 5. Energy-Efficient Appliances
Select new air conditioners, refrigerators and windows with the Energy Star label that guarantees these appliances are more energy-efficient than their less-expensive counterparts. But don’t let the higher prices scare you. The energy and money you will save over time help to justify the difference. Plus, based on the 2009 economic stimulus package, homeowners can get a tax credit for up to 30% of the cost of energy-efficient home improvements during 2009 and 2010. Go to http://energytaxincentives.org/consumers/ for more information about tax credits.

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Energy News (continued)

…initiatives including New York Gov. David Paterson’s "45 by 15" goal, which is set at reducing electricity usage by 15% and increasing clean-energy electricity generation to 30% statewide by 2015. Many other states have similarly aggressive goals. This stimulus package will help.

Homeowners can get a tax credit for up to 30% of the cost of energy-efficient home improvements during 2009 and 2010, up to a lifetime cap of $1,500. This includes the cost of materials for doors, windows, insulation and other similar projects that help to improve and insulate the structure of a primary residence. It also includes cost plus installation of air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps and boilers that meet energy-efficiency guidelines. To get more information about equipment that meets the guidelines for the tax credit, go to http://energytaxincentives.org/consumers/. The stimulus package also offers a tax credit for up to 30% of the cost (labor and materials) of more ambitious home improvements such as solar panels and solar water heaters. There are no caps on these types of projects, which were previously capped at a range of $2,000-$4,000. These tax credits are available through 2016. Tax breaks are also available for taxpayers who purchase hybrid vehicles. The purchase of an IRS-certified hybrid vehicle, combining an electric motor with a gas engine, could mean a tax credit of $250-$3,000, depending on the vehicle. To find a list of vehicles that are eligible, go to www.fueleconomy.gov. There are more stimulus package benefits beyond home energy-efficiency projects. Retirees and disabled people who receive Social Security, regardless of whether they file an income tax return; new-home buyers, new-car buyers and those dragging their feet to convert their analog TV can benefit. People putting themselves or a child through college benefit from $15.6 billion in new funding for the Pell Grant, which will result in an increase in the number of Pell Grant, Academic Competitive Grant and National SMART Grant recipients. The stimulus package also includes a major change to the Hope scholarship tax credit, now called the American Opportunity tax credit, which increases from $1,800 for two years to $2,500 for four years of college. Plus, the credit is 40% refundable to eligible taxpayers. For more information about the stimulus plan, go to www.obamastimulusplan.info.

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