‘Now is the winter of our discontent’

People are concerned about managing their heating bills as they face a seven per cent rate increase compared to last year.

 

Janette Ginns checks her thermostat. Sharon Curtis/Kicker
Janette Ginns, a retired diver and archeologist, is worried about the cost of heating her home this winter. Power rates increased by seven per cent in July. Sharon Curtis/Kicker

Sharon Curtis
Kicker

A long winter of uncertainty lies ahead for metro St. John’s and a portion of the population.

People are scared.

Janette Ginns, born during the Second World War in the U.K., moved to the province in her late 20s.

“I’m scared,” said Ginns. “I hesitate to talk about my power bill or even think about it, but it’s always there at the back of my mind.”

As a war-time child, Ginns quickly learned about survival, endurance and going without.

But, this isn’t war time. 

“I have cut corners. During the winter months, I keep my thermostat at 15 C. I dress in layers inside my home. I draw my curtains in the evening to conserve heat. I use my washer on the cold-water cycle and a little trick I found with my dryer is to leave the door open after the cycle is done … it heats up a small area for a bit of time,” Ginns said.

Even with the sacrifices and the layers of warm clothing, she still pays $200 a month during the winter.

She even had to reduce her food budget. 

“I require a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables, so if I can, I hold out for (grocery) price drops. You can’t get everything from a vitamin pill.”

Angela Vincent is a caregiver for children and adults with disabilities. She lives in a two-bedroom basement apartment in Mount Pearl.

Vincent agrees with Ginns.

“It’s pretty bad,” said Vincent. “We pay enough on our monthly bill for electricity and now, a seven per cent increase.”

Vincent purchased an electric fireplace to help with costs.

“I plug it in and even though it draws on the electricity, it’s cheaper than turning on the thermostat.”

“I hate being cold. I’d rather be hungry.”

  • Angela Vincent

It’s a matter of survival, says Vincent.

“You do what you have to,” said Vincent. “I wear extra clothes and drink hot beverages to keep my body warm. I use my stove a lot to cook, but leave the stove door open after to let the heat go around the place. I also have a dehumidifier, which takes the cold and moisture out of the air, especially in a basement apartment.”

For Vincent, it’s an easy decision between heat and food.

“I hate being cold. I’d rather be hungry.”

To make her home more energy efficient, Ginns paid to have her plumbing insulated to avoid winter freeze-ups.  It came at a price, she says, but that price far outweighs what the cost would be if the pipes froze. 

“When you’re a homeowner, there are a lot of costs for upkeep and maintenance of your property,” Ginns said. “I’m lucky because I don’t have a monthly mortgage payment.”

Vincent was not so lucky. Expenses forced her out of her home and into an apartment.

“My power bill would run me $325, even during the summer months and that was with the equal payment plan,” Vincent said.

 

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