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To: ChanceIs who wrote (106985)	8/12/2008 10:22:14 PM
From: gregor_us	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 206203

About 6 weeks ago, I tried to tell the CWEI board that a huge 2 year wave of HO switching to NG was taking place on the Eastern Seaboard, from individual homeowners, cities and towns, institutions, industry, and large apartment building owners. I told them about the 35K student UMass, right here in my town, switching. I posted myriad articles about cities like Portland, Maine switching govt buildings. And, industrial switching. But, most of them were having none of it. On the CWEI board,I have long gathered that many posters live in the West, and do not understand that: 1. We have high densities up here in the NE. 2. We have a huge installed base of HO systems especially in schools, town and city govt buildings, apartment buildings that goes back to the 1940's and 1950's. 3. It's not a herculean task to make the switch, and if you are industrial, govt or a large building the savings are magnified. 4. At current pricing it makes a ton of sense. 5. And yes, I know it's hard to believe, but we really do have lots of NG lines running up here, and if you want to switch there's likely an NG line running down the street already. Whatever, they just couldn't get their head around it. I was intrigued by how many articles were easily found using google news. Try it. You'll see that most local newspaper have covered the story some time in the last year. Anecdote: My wife says they were talking at work about it last week, here in Western Massachusetts. The WSJ is doing a pretty good job on the story. This is their second article. Unless there is a collapse in the oil price, or a freakish warm Winter, I am sticking with my view that NG this Winter will best the old Katrina high by at least (Drum roll) 5 cents. G

To: ChanceIs who wrote (106985)	8/13/2008 8:06:54 AM
From: skinowski	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 206203

"Serious phone calls" from people in New York City and Long Island seeking to switch from heating oil have nearly doubled in the first six months of this year to 13,700 I converted an old Victorian to gas, about 8 years ago. The old oil boiler was becoming a pain in the arse, and the oil Co guys who kept coming over to fix it were already becoming good buddies. I found out that the 1100 gallon tank which was buried under the front lawn was way past its life expectancy, and sooner or later it would spring a leak. To replace it would cost a fortune. To change to gas, however, was easy and inexpensive - and yes, there already was a gas line running down the street. It was not a hard decision.

To: ChanceIs who wrote (106985)	8/13/2008 9:51:38 AM
From: kollmhn	Respond to of 206203

Chancels- I made the switch last December. After learning that selling my house would be nearly impossible if there was still an oil tank on the property, I decided to examine the specifics (including the voiding of my tank insurance. In 2006 my HO bill was $3200. I 2007 it was even higher (my estimate). So, when I call the NG company (here in NJ) I was informed that if I had a gas line installed by year end they would do it for free and PAY ME $1500. Needless to say, I signed up and will probably pay for the new NG furnace in 5 years with the savings. With heating oil up at least 20% from last year, the 2008 bill would likely have been well over $4000. Year to date it's only $1900 and should top out at no more than $2500. In fairness, I replaced all my windows last fall/winter and kept to house at 60 for Feb through May while we went to our Florida home. So, the true NG savings ought to be less. But, the NJ furnace takes no maintenance compared to the HO furnace and it's quieter, to boot.