Wyoming: 50% increase in utility bills could cost jobs

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Higher utility bills could cost jobs RAWLINS, Wyo. (AP) - Higher natural gas prices will likely cause ripple effects throughout the economy, including lost jobs, a state official said. Money paid out for higher natural gas bills, some which will be about 50 percent higher than last winter, will mean less money spent at restaurants and other establishments, said Andy Aldrich with the Rawlins office of the Department of Family Services.

"As I lose my expendable income, there's going to be less sugar floating around," he said.

Some businesses may have to lay off workers to compensate for lost customers, and typically those employees are at the lower end of the income scale, Aldrich said.

Compounding the problem, he said, is that those people may already be feeling the pinch because many live in apartments or houses less efficient to heat.

The Department of Family Services has seen no increase in clientele that can be directly tied to the hike in natural gas prices, he said.

"If we are going to see any effect, I think it's going to be from the secondary cause of people losing their jobs in January," Aldrich said.

Other assistance program managers, however, are noticing a difference.

"I have seen it already," said Sharon Carlson, with the Low Income Energy Assistance Program in Casper. "We have been swamped with applications."

The program makes direct payments to utility companies for those who qualify.

Some people who would not otherwise qualify might be able to receive emergency assistance, officials said.

Last week, the state set up a toll-free number to offer information about energy assistance programs. The number is (800) 457-3659.

http://www.trib.com/HOMENEWS/WYO/AANaturalGasPrices11.html

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), October 13, 2000


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