Sisters residents make heating choices

Wood and electricity are the two common choices for heating in Sisters. photo by Jeff McCaulou

As winter arrives and the air cools, Sisters residents brace themselves for a season of heating bills and wood to split.

In a Fuel Cost Comparison analysis by Central Electric Co-op, electricity was the cheapest -- and the most expensive -- source of heat, depending on what kind of heating unit is being used. The efficiency is highest with an electric heat pump and lowest with baseboard electric heaters.

Most residents in the Sisters area use electricity, about 70 percent to be exact.

The average bill for nearly 75 percent of those who heat exclusively with electricity is $101.93 a month.

Those who use pellet stoves could plan to spend about $137 a month.

Pellets can also be delivered by the ton for $150, which lasts for 50 days, according to the CEC analysis.

Folks who heat with propane will shell out $149 for three to six weeks with a 12-gallon tank, depending on the efficiency of the home. In the wintertime the price per gallon can go up to as much as $2.40, depending on the market.

If one is spry and has the equipment, wood can be cut in the public forests from mid-April to November 30. The U.S. Forest Service offers cutting information and a permit for $20. This permit buys two cords of wood.

Local woodcutter Tisha Mann said, "The average wood burning home uses about five to six cords a winter.

"The average price for a cord of wood that is split and delivered (is) anywhere from $150 to $200," she said.

"Pine is usually cheaper because it burns faster. The pricier stuff will be tamarack or something a little slower burning."

Fewer people are heating the old-fashioned way.

"The usage of wood has declined steadily in the last 15 years," said Jim Crowell, CEC spokesman.

He attributed this to the increasing scarcity of readily available wood.

If all of the heating options seem out of reach for a household budget, there are some assistance programs to make heat more affordable.

CEC offers a "Helping Hand" program subsidizing electric bills for qualified applicants. The Sisters Family Access Network also assists qualified applicants with heating costs or firewood.

For more information on these programs contact Central Electric Co-op at 548-2144; contact Teresa Slavkovsky at Sisters Family Access Network at 549-0155.