Consumers can expect heating bills to jump

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Poor Oklahomans could be left choosing between warmth or food this winter because of record-breaking natural gas prices, aid agencies warn. <br><br>Consumer gas costs are up two-thirds

Thursday, December 7th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Poor Oklahomans could be left choosing between warmth or food this winter because of record-breaking natural gas prices, aid agencies warn.

Consumer gas costs are up two-thirds from a year ago, the Oklahoma Natural Gas Co. reports. And the bills are only expected to keep climbing.

The Salvation Army's ``Share The Warmth'' program already is feeling the effects. The number of needy families being helped with their winter fuel bills through the program is about the same, but the total amount spent each month has roughly doubled, said Maj. Ron Busroe.

``These are not people on welfare. They have jobs, but they are not making enough,'' he said. ``They will have to make the decision on whether to feed the children or heat the house.

``People will freeze to death this year,'' Busroe said. ``I'm not saying that to be dramatic. It happens every year.''

The ``Share the Warmth'' program is funded by ONG customers who donate by including extra payment with their own bills.

State law allows ONG to recoup the cost of natural gas from customers.

ONG officials say higher bills are almost a certainty because the cost of gas has risen well above the $5.06 per thousand cubic feet cost that ONG is authorized to pass on to consumers.

Natural gas prices jumped $1.10, or 15 percent, to $8.48 per thousand cubic feet Wednesday, setting a record high for the fifth consecutive day on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

``We knew in the summer that this increase was coming,'' ONG spokesman Roger Mitchell said. ``That's why we warned customers that costs could be 50- to 60-percent higher this winter. We still think that they will be closer to the upper end of that estimate, probably about 60-percent higher.''

Mel Phillips, coordinator of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program for Oklahoma, said he is searching for additional funding for heating assistance for the poor.

``We all know that this is hard for you and me,'' he said. ``Think of the impact this has on people living on a fixed income. Think of how this affects someone living on less than $600 per month.''

The program spent $6 million last year to aid about 68,000 Oklahoma households, Phillips said.

Even with an increase in federal funding, extraordinary steps will have to be taken to meet this winter's demands, he said.

``I'm working on additional funding,'' Phillips said. ``It has always been federally funded, but we are trying to find some state funds this year.''