Guys I complain about the price of oil, and gas. I pay a lot more than anyone in the lower 48, but no where near the price Dand and the other people that live in the Alaska Bush. Many people say, "Well if it cost so much to live there, just move". What people are refusing to realize is that is home for them. They were raised there, as was their parents, and grandparents. Their friends live there, their families live there, their whole lives are invested there. Many are moving from the Bush towns and villages, but they are finding it is not easy living in the big cities where things are so differant and so many people.
Had fuel oil delivered yesterday, 324 gallons. We used that much during the month of December due to the extreame cold. December was the longest cold spell -45 ever recorded. I replaced my boiler five years ago to a new energy efficent hybrid boiler. That cut my fuel consumption in half. Now I am thinking about all those people that have not switched and are still using those old types that use a lot more oil. No wonder we have such bad air here in North Pole and Fairbanks. You constantly smell coal and wood smoke when outside. EPA is having a field day taking measurements and planning our demise over our bad air. They will probably come up with something like restricting the number of people allowed to live here or something like that.
That 324 gallons cost me $3.16 per gallon, a total of $1024.47. That's one months heating bill, not counting electricity. Dand good luck buddy and keep warm. Rog