TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Ashley Tatum was three months behind on her utility payments after leaving her job at a coffee shop because of pregnancy complications. The mother of two owed $648, and the tough economy did not offer many options.
The Milwaukee resident had one small reason to hope: The winter has been mild and her heating bills low, offering an unexpected chance to catch up on overdue payments.
“It was helpful because then I wouldn’t have to stress about getting all this extra money,” she said.
Although there have been some cold snaps and storms, the moderate weather has been a boon to millions of Americans, allowing them to save money on snow removal and permitting outdoor activities to continue well beyond autumn. But few have been more grateful than low-income families, who are getting a break from high heating costs.
Tatum first noticed the lower charges in November. Her bill covering most of December was $164, less than half what it had been a year earlier.
“I was surprised,” Tatum said. “I called my sister and said, ‘Girl, is your bill cheaper too?’ I’m happy that we had those nice, warm days.”
Initially, forecasters made grim predictions that this winter could rival or exceed the cold, snowy assault of 2010-11. But average temperatures have been above normal across the Upper Midwest and Northeast. Combined with a lack of snow and ice, the unseasonable conditions have been a blessing for many families who normally devote much of their budgets to natural gas, propane or heating oil.
In Michigan, temperatures have been 15 percent above normal since October, and plentiful fuel supplies are driving down natural-gas prices.
“It’s helping all customers,” said Judy Palnau, spokeswoman for the Michigan Public Service Commission.
Utility company Consumers Energy says its 1.7 million natural-gas customers in Michigan are paying about 20 percent less than a year ago. The average residential bill for January will be $112, down from about $140.
Demand for heating assistance remains high, advocacy groups and government agencies say, partly because so many Americans are unemployed.
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Northeast welcomes rare snow
•PHILADELPHIA — A few inches of snow coated the Northeast on Saturday in a storm so rare this season in the East that some welcomed it.
“We’ve been very lucky, so we can’t complain,” said Gloria Fernandez of New York City as she shoveled the sidewalk outside her workplace. “It’s nice, it’s fluffy, and it’s on the weekend.”
Snow hadn’t fallen in the city since a rare October storm dumped more than 2 feet of snow in parts and knocked out power to nearly 3 million homes and businesses in the region.
By midafternoon, 4.3 inches of snow had fallen in Central Park and 3.4 inches at LaGuardia Airport in New York. Most of eastern Pennsylvania and central New Jersey saw about 4 inches of snow. Flurries and freezing rain fell around Washington, D.C.
In Massachusetts, the National Weather Service said 11 inches fell in the Bristol County town of Acushnet. The storm was expected to move out to sea overnight. The Associated Press
