While some Schuylkill County residents may have trouble paying higher heating bills, local school districts have been able to save on oil with new energy-efficient systems and alternative fuel sources.
The Pottsville Area School District relies on natural gas to heat its high school, middle school, elementary school and administrative buildings. While natural gas is cheaper than heating oil, the district has had to account for the extra expense resulting from colder temperatures.
"Naturally we are spending more this year than last year," Stephen C. Curran, the district's business manager, said Thursday.
Curran said the district set aside $250,000 in its current budget for heating costs. That was the amount budgeted last year, he said.
So far, the district has spent $96,000 this year to heat its buildings. Curran said that figure is in line with prior years.
"That's a really reasonable figure as far as energy goes for the year," Curran said.
However, Curran said the district has yet to receive last month's bill and that was when temperatures dipped below zero degrees.
If heating costs exceed what was budgeted, Curran said the district is able to pull money from other line items.
"We've always had a contingency in there one way or another," he said.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average cost of heating oil this month is $3.81 per gallon while natural gas is $10.17 per thousand cubic feet. Comparing the two fuel sources, it would cost $679 to heat the average home with natural gas this winter and $2,046 using heating oil, according to the EIA.
Mahanoy Area School District uses oil to heat its buildings, but past investments are resulting in savings.
After spending $2.2 million on upgrades completed in 2011, the district is saving at least $149,000 each year on energy expenses, Business Manager Jack Hurst said on Thursday.
Hurst said the district budgeted $202,404 this year for heating expenses. Last year, the district spent $219,088.
"It was a blessing to get this," Bob Pastucha, facilities director, said Thursday about the upgrades to the system.
Prior to the upgrades, two boilers were used to heat the middle school and two more were used to heat the high school. Pipes were installed to connect all four and now the two original boilers, which are about twice the size of the newer models, are being used to heat the entire complex. The newer boilers are only used when it gets warmer or to supplement the main source.
Also, the old system provided heat to the buildings in sections. Now, Pastucha said he can control temperatures in individual rooms.
"That's where the big savings come in - just being able to operate when and where we need it," Pastucha said.
Temperatures in January were 6.7 degrees lower than normal, according to John LaCorte, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service at State College. While it has been warmer the last few days, the forecast still calls for below normal temperatures.
"We are expecting overall for it to be colder than normal," LaCorte said.
Temperatures are expected to be above 30 degrees today and drop near 10 degrees overnight, LaCorte said. On Saturday, temperatures will be in the mid-20s and be about freezing Sunday.