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Higher Heating Bills Cause Increase in Space Heaters

Posted on: Tuesday, 27 December 2005, 21:00 CST

By RC Balaban, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

Dec. 26--WATERLOO -- As winter drags along, high heating bills are causing consumers to seek out other means of heating their homes.

A popular method for garnering additional heat involves the use of space heaters. This year, with temperatures hitting record lows in early December, people seem to be flocking to space heaters more than usual.

Brad Ferguson, assistant general manager at Menards in Waterloo, said sales of space heaters have been going well so far this winter.

"I would say that it's probably more in demand this year than last year," Ferguson said.

John Hand II, assistant general manager at Carver Ace Hardware in Cedar Falls, also said sales are going pretty well so far.

"I would say the sales match last year's sales," Hand said.

When used effectively, space heaters can help consumers save on heating bills. The idea is that the house thermostat can be set at a lower temperature and the space heater can be run only when needed.

Allan Urlis, spokesman for MidAmerican Energy, said average MidAmerican residential customers will pay an additional $50 per month to heat their homes from October 2005 to April 2006.

The typical temperature setting for heating is 68, according to MidAmerican's Web site. Dropping the temperature to 65 would cause the heating bill to drop 15 percent. Then, the space heater can be used to make up the difference when needed.

Based on MidAmerican Energy's average rate of $0.085 per kilowatt-hour, running a 1,500 watt space heater for four hours a day would cost about $15.30 per month.

On the other hand, having it run 24 hours a day would cost $91.80 per month.

Should consumers decide space heaters are the way to save money, certain precautions need to be taken. Waterloo fire chief Ned DeBerg said the department has not had any fires this season due to space heaters, but it would be an unusual winter if it stayed that way.

"We always do, during the winter months, have a few fires due to space heaters," DeBerg said.

DeBerg said the most common cause of space heater fires is having combustible objects too close to the heater. Leaving a space heater unattended also could pose a problem, since problems that occur could not be handled quickly.

"I'd be a little leery running it all night while I'm sleeping," DeBerg said.

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To see more of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wcfcourier.com.

Copyright (c) 2005, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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BRK,

Source: Waterloo Courier

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