Updated Surplus Numbers

Updated Surplus Numbers
Updated Surplus Numbers: Actual surplus 2018 per audit was $85,163.
Boards 2011-2018 implemented policies and procedures with specific goals:
stabilize owner fees, achieve maintenance objectives and achieve annual budget surpluses.
Any surplus was retained by the association.
The board elected in fall 2018 decided to increase owner fees, even in view of a large potential surplus

Average fees prior to 2019

Average fees prior to 2019
Average fees per owner prior to 2019:
RED indicates the consequences had boards continued the fee policies prior to 2010,
BLUE indicates actual fees. These moderated when better policies and financial controls were put in place by boards

Better budgeting could have resulted in lower fees

Better budgeting could have resulted in lower fees
Better budgeting could have resulted in lower fees:
RED line = actual fees enacted by boards,
BLUE line = alternate, fees, ultimately lower with same association income lower had
boards used better financial controls and focused on long term fee stability

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Natural Gas Prices Continue to Fall



Bookmark and Share



Utility costs have been on the rise. For example, electricity and water rates. However, natural gas prices have fallen since October, 2014.  Prices rose to a peak of $4.50 per million BTU in November, but are currently $2.93 per million BTU.

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal "plunging temperatures are a cue for traders to make bullish bets because the resulting spike in demand can deplete natural-gas supplies. Last February, prices jumped by more than 30% in a matter of days during one particularly severe cold snap." However that isn't happening so far this year. Why is that? The article continues "The usual seasonal rally hasn't materialized because many analysts believe gas supplies are high enough to get through even a brutal winter with plenty to spare. Daily gas production has set a record for 11 straight months,"

Will this mean a low natural gas bill next month? Probably not. "Changes in natural-gas futures prices can take months to trickle down to heating bills. Most natural gas customers buy from utilities, which contract for most of their fuel months in advance."

Later in the year we may see a price decrease (cost per therm) in our natural gas bill. But probably not until then. However, for the past two years my natural gas bill has been very steady, averaging $50 per month for gas heat, cooking and hot water.  Nicor Gas has been encouraging me to reduce my monthly payment to $39 but I've kept it steady at $50 after looking at my account credit. I'm on a budget plan which charges me full price for gas used, but does allow me to pay an average amount per month. This plan is supposed to keep my monthly budget steady.

I never allow my credit to go to zero and I always stay ahead. Why? To avoid any finance charges. Nicor Gas supposedly pays interest on any credit. Nicor Gas does charge interest on unpaid balances. So Nicor would probably prefer my "budget" be close to zero credit. That''s my assumption when the bill indicated I only owe a budget amount of $39 but my annual costs is about $600, which is $50 per month.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please leave a comment!

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.