The Finch Formerly Known As Gold

11 January 2006

The Gas Game (January)

What we're doing here is trying to quantify a decision I made last fall: Oklahoma Natural Gas offered a Voluntary Fixed Price rate of $8.393 per dekatherm for twelve months, which I turned down because gas was rather a lot less than that at the time.

Unfortunately for me, it's rather a lot more than that right now:

  • November: 2.4 used at $11.044; total price $26.51; VFP price $20.14; loss of $6.37.

  • December: 4.4 used at $11.550; total price $50.82; VFP price $36.93; loss of $13.89.

  • January: 9.7 used at $12.012; total price $116.52; VFP price $81.41; loss of $35.11.

  • Cumulative: 16.5 used at $11.748; total price $193.85; VFP price $138.48; loss of $55.37.

The February bill is normally the worst of the year anyway, so I'm not exactly looking forward to next month.

Posted at 5:25 PM to Family Joules


Like you, I opted against the voluntary fixed price, choosing to take my chances against the open market. Like you, I'm currently running a deficit, but I haven't had the gumption to calculate it.

One thing operating in my favor - my 40 year old furnace died in November. I replaced the 60% efficiency model with a brand-spankin' new 92% two-stage model. Thanks to the increase in efficiency, I may just break even in my energy prices this year over next.

Of course, for that comparison to work, you have to be willing to overlook the $2000 I spent getting the furnaces swapped.

Posted by: Joe Goodwin at 8:44 PM on 11 January 2006

My current furnace dates to the late 1990s; it operates with commendable efficiency, considering it has to vent into relatively ancient ductwork. I suspect it would cost more than two Gs to change that stuff out.

Posted by: CGHill at 7:07 AM on 12 January 2006

Try five g's

Posted by: ms7168 at 9:35 AM on 12 January 2006

Which is more than two, last I looked. :)

Posted by: CGHill at 9:42 AM on 12 January 2006