Heating oil costs a concern for N.L. seniors' organization, while gas prices hit new record high
CBC
Furnace oil prices are now more than dollar a litre across Newfoundland, meaning there could be implications as the weather cools off for people who already struggle financially.
The director of information and referral services for SeniorsNL — a non-profit organization that promotes the independence and well-being of seniors through information, programs and services — told CBC News 14 per cent of all calls her organization receives are from people who are having trouble paying their bills.
"We hear from seniors every day who are making choices between food, and rent and utilities," Elizabeth Siegel said.
"We're hearing from seniors that for the first time ever are using food banks. So if their food budget is being squeezed out I can only imagine what that's going to do to their budget for heating."
For the same period in October 2020 furnace oil was just over 60 cents per litre across the island, the outlier being in the Gaultois, McCallum, Rencontre East area where the price reached just over 78 cents. But since Sept. 23, the price across the island has been more than a dollar in all regions.
As of Thursday morning, with the Public Utilities Board's weekly price-setting in effect, furnace oil costs $1.034 per litre on the northeast Avalon, $1.064 on the northwest Avalon, as much as $1.099 on the Northern Peninsula, $1.043 in the Corner Brook area, and $1.074 in central Newfoundland.
Even last year, Siegel said, her organization heard from seniors who were turning off electricity in their homes in all rooms except for one. She said others turned down their heat very low and instead sat by a heated oven.