Lot to be said for a few cords of wood in the backyard. Some snippets
Interruptible (Spot) natural gas prices have been peaking 3 to 4 times the normal cost. A local manufacturer in my area is curtailing operations and sending folks home until the prices stabilize. Firm gas folks like residential customers are covered with fixed price contracts but these price spikes will end up in their bills one of these days. The hourly and day ahead power prices in the region are also shooting up as most natural gas power plants are on interruptible gas and even if they have extra capacity the natural gas supply to the region is limited
Propane is in short supply in Maine as the normal supply route was closed by the train derailment and fire in Quebec last summer. There was another train derailment to the east of Maine in New Brunswick today that will may also impact the region adversely.
The biggest independent heating oil supplier in southern NH is having issues keeping up with demand. Their phone system is conveniently not working and prepaid folks are running out of oil. The state and the owner is not saying a lot but I expect the owner didn't buy adequate futures contracts to cover his paid in advance demand and rather depended on the spot market which typically dries up in winter due to issues with bulk deliveries from barges that tend to slow down due to rotten winter weather. Some folks are filling up their tanks with diesel fuel hauled home in five gallon containers. I expect that if the dealer survives, once it warms up and the oil demand drops in the region that he can cover his customers with spot oil.
Interruptible (Spot) natural gas prices have been peaking 3 to 4 times the normal cost. A local manufacturer in my area is curtailing operations and sending folks home until the prices stabilize. Firm gas folks like residential customers are covered with fixed price contracts but these price spikes will end up in their bills one of these days. The hourly and day ahead power prices in the region are also shooting up as most natural gas power plants are on interruptible gas and even if they have extra capacity the natural gas supply to the region is limited
Propane is in short supply in Maine as the normal supply route was closed by the train derailment and fire in Quebec last summer. There was another train derailment to the east of Maine in New Brunswick today that will may also impact the region adversely.
The biggest independent heating oil supplier in southern NH is having issues keeping up with demand. Their phone system is conveniently not working and prepaid folks are running out of oil. The state and the owner is not saying a lot but I expect the owner didn't buy adequate futures contracts to cover his paid in advance demand and rather depended on the spot market which typically dries up in winter due to issues with bulk deliveries from barges that tend to slow down due to rotten winter weather. Some folks are filling up their tanks with diesel fuel hauled home in five gallon containers. I expect that if the dealer survives, once it warms up and the oil demand drops in the region that he can cover his customers with spot oil.
