Island woman takes heating costs into her own hands
TERESA WRIGHT The Guardian
Annette Jackman wants government-funded pellet stoves installed in low-income homes on Prince Edward Island. She has started a petition calling for that action to help the poor. Guardian photo by Heather Taweel
An Island woman fed up with watching friends and acquaintances being forced to choose between paying for furnace oil or food has started a petition asking for government-funded pellet stoves to be installed in low-income homes.
Annette Jackman said a wood pellet stove would only cost about $150 a month in heating for a home.
“They’re $5 a bag. You put a bag of these pellets in the hopper, set the temperature and they heat your house to the same extent a furnace would heat your house — maybe even better.’’
After struggling herself and watching her friends and others struggle through this year’s cold winter weather, she said she wanted to do something to help.
“People are struggling with $400 payments and it’s straining those people on low incomes and pensions.’’
One woman she spoke to in Charlottetown told Jackman she couldn’t afford to buy her daughter shoes. Another one told her she had a tooth that needed to be filled but couldn’t afford to fill it.
And yet another woman explained to Jackman that halfway through the month she’s forced to eat plain bread and potatoes she borrows from a friend in the country.
“This is a common thing now,’’ Jackman said.
“(What) I’m trying to do is stop this from happening.’’
That’s why she’s started circulating a petition, calling on the government to fund the installation costs of wood pellet stoves as an alternative and cheaper fuel source.
“The high price of furnace oil is no longer affordable for low-income families and seniors. The wood pellet stove is an alternative heat that’s affordable and allows us money for food and other needs.’’
Opposition Leader Olive Crane supports Jackman’s effort and any others asking for government support of alternative heating.
Crane said she gets calls every day from people desperate for help with their heating costs.
“Again last weekend, we had another storm and it was really cold. This winter just doesn’t seem to want to end. And I’ve talked to a number of people who are really desperate, still struggling with trying to heat their homes.’’
Crane would like to see government design a program that would see collaboration between senior officials in the departments of Environment and Energy, Social Services and Seniors and taxation for an alternative heating sources program, such as pellet stoves.
“Annette’s idea of a wood pellet stove is certainly one idea for a solution,” Crane said.
“But I want to encourage the government to actually implement its own program.’’
Crane said she would be raising this issue in the house when the legislature sits for its spring session in April.
But in the meantime people are still cold, she said.
“With Annette’s example — whether it’s wood pellets or alternative energy — you could design a small committee of three people that work for government,’’ Crane said.
“They could then invite the federal government to the table and maybe get federal dollars to do something to the Office of Energy Efficiency that could be a really neat program — one that maybe they would buy into for a pilot for the next three to five years on P.E.I.’’
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k macphee from yellowknife, NT writes: This is a great idea. Pellet stoves are clean to use and efficient.
One problem with them,unless there is a newer model, is when the power goes out they need a fan to blow the smoke out,otherwise the house will fill up with smoke.
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JJ from PEI writes: There is a program already in place by the provincial government and the lending authority, I know people who have used it. I guess you have to be liberal to know about it.
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YEs There Is A Program from SSIDE, PEI writes: To JJ. Yes there is already a program in place but the cost is too high for low income families. They need to help the low income and seniors. Most seniors and low income families do not have an extra $100.00 per month for such a purchase.
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Joe from PE writes: Such a program should be offered to everybody, not just low income. We can’t discriminate someone from being low-income - possibly on social assistance, so don’t discriminate someone who makes a higher wage. Higher heating costs affect everyone.
By the way, it seems the higher income would be mostly subsidizing this program anyway, so at least they should also benefit. They too have to pay higher heating bills, not just low income families.
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John G from Charlottetown, PEI writes: I have a pellet stove and wouldn't trade it for anything. But there is work to it and it won't heat water. You can't turn it on and forget about it. If you don't maintain it it goes out, it needs a bag of pellets dumped into it every day, every 3 or 4 days it has to be shut off for a few hours so you can clean the glass and the little hopper of any build up of ash. You need a shop vac to do a good job of it. My main source of heat is still my oil furnace but my pellet stove also goes full time from the first of Dec, to the middle of April. and will pay for itself in 3 years.
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karen from PEI writes: Well Joe, I guess the differance between a low income family and high heating cost vs. a middle to high income family and high heating cost is that we, the lower income family, have to chose between food or heat. It doesn't mean that we can't go south this year, or that we can't go out to dinner as much. Thats the differance.
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a from pei writes: Anything would help. I haven't been able to afford oil at all this winter. My home has been fueled with $40-50 of desiel/wk. That's with the thermostat set at 15oc so we're always cold. It sucks!
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What Karen? from PE writes: Well Karen,
If people have to choose between food/heat/or being on the internet, I’d probably do without the internet.
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Concerned from PEI writes: I heat with wood and a pellet stove;however, they both require a great deal of work, and neither operate when the power is off. By the way, wood costs $160.00-$175.00 per cord. In the early eighties energy crisis which was nowhere what it is now, the Federal Government shared the cost of installing alternate heating systems, where are they now? A couple hundred dollars or a low interest is of not much use to anyone no matter what their income and as a previous writer said we all subsidize such programs so we should all benefit. just be cause some people earn more than others doesn't mean they didn't earn it.
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JD from PE writes: In theory this is a great idea. Only problem is that if these people can't afford to buy oil than how could they afford to buy pellets plus pay back the loan.
Also are we not forgetting the fact that once the Government had a program like this the cost of the stoves and pellets would mysteriously increase in price. Similar to the way Day Care did last year when the Government implemented an extra $100.00 for parents for daycare.
The fact is that there need to be some assistance for low income people in the winter time. But maybe it would be better spent money if a rebate program or a subsidy for oil was put in place. Could be as simply as people applying for it and proving their income. Than the onus would be on the people who need it to prove they need it.
A simple question....is there any connection between the person in the story and any pellet stove retailers...anyone else question this?
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eastern pei from pei writes: then government might have to put money into forestry which is unlikely
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L B from charlottetown, PE writes: Seems to me that anyone paying 400$ a month now for oil, could afford 100$-200$ a month instead to pay for the stove and pellets. Then the cost of the stove would be recouped in a few years and then it's just the cost of the pellets from then on. Oil prices are likely to keep increasing, so the margin of savings will probably only increase as well. I wouldn't want any of my tax dollars to be spent subsidizing a dying and unscrupulous oil industry, we should be looking for better solutions instead.
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joe from pei writes: This situation is playing out everywhere in canada, the u.s. and around the world. Oil prices are going up everywhere and will continue to go up forever. This situation is comparable to the mortgage crisis in the u.s. If you can't afford your house and the costs that go with it, sell it and rent. Then you have money in your pocket. People are overextending their budgets to the point they are looking for help. At some point, people have to take responsibility for the choices they make and find a way to fix it themselves. I definitely feel for the people in this situation, but lets face facts. If your budget is so tight that a change in the price of oil over the last couple of years is forcing you to do without, is it possible that you have put yourself in a position that you may have bought too much house?
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Concerned from pei writes: How good are these pellet stoves?? Can anyone afford to stay home all day to take care of a stove? People need their homes warm, and food on their table, they should not have to choose which one they are going to have.
People who have children going to school cannot go without, neither can seniors. People who make a higher income can afford heat, low income cannot! I rent an apartment, and needless to say my rent will be increased also.
Government has to do something! There has to be a solution for all of us, especially those homeowners who cannot afford heat! If it is the pellet stove, then charge half the price to a low income family, and let them pay it monthly. Higher income people will have to pay the full amount, as it only fair, in order to help out the unfortunate.
When you are enjoying your cozy homes, think of those that are cold and hungry!
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frank from summerside, pe writes: The government just announced the new energy efficiency programs. These programs would help people immediately by telling them how they can make their homes more energy efficient. They can even get the energy inspections fully paid for if they make below a certain income. The government is also offering loans at 6% to complete any recommended upgrades. Hopefully some people can take advantage of the new programs.
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tp from Charlottetown, PEI writes: your rent may go up due to heating increases, but the maximum increase is a miniscule 1%. Certainly not budget-busting.
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Not such a great idea from PEI writes: I'm not familiar with these Pellet stoves, so I don't know how they work.
From what I've read here, it sounds like it's a lot of work to maintain though.
If it's that much work, do we really want to spend all that government money on something that people might not take care of?
What do you do if a family doesn't take care of their stove and it no longer works? Do they get a new one which costs the government more money?
I'm all for helping the low income, but I think there's better ways to do it than this.
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to tp from PEI writes: Actually the allowable increase for 2007 for a heated rental was 3% and 7% in 2006.
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Soon to be owner from pei writes: I am thinking of purchasing a pellet stove and getting rid of my wood stove. Do these stoves, heat better than a wood stove? What am I getting myself into? I need some advice from owners of pellet stoves!
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be reasonable from pei writes: Do you think that people that rent apartments, do not pay for heat in their rent?? If not think again!!!! When rent goes up, it is for 12 months a year. You don't heat your house for that long. Then rent goes up in a years time again!
Do you know the cost of rent in Charlottetown for a decent place? It is not cheap, there are low income people paying rent, that could do without that rent increase, also Senior citizens.
The government has to put a freeze on these things, or we will all be out in the cold!
At least you can sell a house! What about the family that gets evicted, and cannot pay rent? I guess they asked for that, because they work for minimum wage! I DON T SO!
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Put a freeze on rents? from PEI writes: Putting a freeze on rents ? What a nice idea. Who do you suppose should pay the increased costs for fuel and everything else? The rental fairy?
It never ceases to amaze me how people feel they are owed a place to live. Im sorry but if you rent your paying for a service. If the costs go up the rent has to go up or there will be nothing left to rent?
FYI your internet bill would likely cover an increase this year?
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tp from Charlottetown, PEI writes: in 2008, the mandatory maximum increase for heated and unheated residential premises is 1%.
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to tp from PEI writes: I stand corrected. Thank you.
Thats actually a pretty dumb given the cost of heating increase. I guess IRAC gets a little more pressure from the oil companies than for all those wealthy landlords..
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to tp from pei part 3 from pei writes: Wealthy landlords ? Where are they...i am in foreclosure on my rental cause i couldn't afford to heat it any longer - and yah 1% increase big yippeee......passing the bill on to tenants wouldn't help much. bottom line is we can't control oil prices...i only have wood at home - (oh and to concerned - mine works when the power is off !!)
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stove owner from PEI writes: I purchased a pellet stove last year and am extremely happy with it. There is some work to maintaining it, but it is an excellent source of heat and well worth it. I saved around $500.00 in oil compared to the year before and am actually keeping it warmer than when I heated strictly with oil. This year looks like I will save almost the same. I figure my payback for the purchase of the stove will be 5 years. My only complaint was the installation cost. My insurance required that it be installed by a certified installer. The 3 quotes I received were all around a $1000.00. The company who installed it was there for 4 hours from the time they started the install to the time they left. I priced the parts to install it afterwards and it totaled $250.00. They didn't see me coming, they called.
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Be reasonable from pei writes: Landlords are not wealthy??? I could name a few that are! Besides, whether they are wealthy or not, they can at least make sure that their rental units are decent. In decent shape, clean, and maintained. Charlottetown has some real Dumps! for rent. Filthy, run-down, places that they charge a lot of rent for.
Some landlords, shouldn't even be landlords. So you think they're shouldn't be some control of rent? Then I guess you don't mind the gas and fuel increases either?
Did you just crawl out from under a rock???????
There are people out there really suffering, and you are crying poor me!!!
Well I'll let you wallow in your self- pity!
Just don't share it!
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Best Investment from PEI writes: I'm surprised that no one has mentioned insulating and stopping drafts from coming in to the house. If people winterize their homes, it makes a huge difference in the oil and electric bills. You can even stuff newspapers in cracks and holes to stop the cold air - one good use for the Guardian newspaper.
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Papers from PEI writes: Yes stop the drafts in your home with insulation, new windows and doors. But used safe materials like fiberglass insulation or expanding foam. Don't stuff fammable materials such as newspaper anywhere in your home. Dry paper can ignite so easily you won't have to worry about a draft.
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Shawn Worth from vancouver, B.C writes: People are going to need find another way of heating their home's , because oil went off $ 5.00 and it stand just over $104.00 a barrel.
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Rita Jackson from Victoria, Prince Edward Island writes: What if these houses were insulated properly? Weather strip the doors and windows. It cost me about $15 to do mine. in addition, I have a solar water heater. It saves me almost half on my oil bill. Just last month my oil delivery cost $440. less than it would have last year.
There are 16, 735 low income households if we paid $5,000 each on each house. The savings on fuel would pay the entire cost back in five years, IF oil does not go up! If oil goes up again the payback period would be under five years.
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