Monday, August 28, 2006

The price of (heating) oil - Updated 9/1/06

We are far enough out on the edge of exurbia that there is no natural gas service. So, your choices in heating are electric (ouch!), propane, or heating oil. We use oil.

Each year our supplier allows you to lock in your purchases for the winter at a fixed price. The condition, though, is that you have to decide, in advance, how many gallons you want to buy at that price, and then you have to pay them in advance. It's all a crap shoot. So far, each year, I've won.

This year the price was $2.599 per gallon. I bought 750 gallons, the same as last year, figuring the price had to go up to $3 a gallon later on.

Today I bought gas at $2.589, the lowest price I've seen in many months. I'm starting to wonder "did I guess right, or do I lose this year?"

UPDATE (8/29) - Today gas was $2.519 in Yorktown.

UPDATE (9/1) - Bought gas, while driving to work in Hurricane Ernesto, for $2.439.

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