Above: Intermittently, for a time, boards informed owners of association finances
Newsletter 2008 excerpt is an example of earlier board willingness to communicate with owners.
The boards of 2019-2021 prefer not to do so.
https://tinyurl.com/BLMH2021
Life and observations in a HOA in the Briarcliffe Subdivision of Wheaton Illinois
Best if viewed on a PC
"Briarcliffe Lakes Manor Homes" and "Briarcliffe Lakes Homeowners Association"
Updated Surplus Numbers
Average fees prior to 2019
Better budgeting could have resulted in lower fees
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Natural Gas Prices Continue to Fall
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.
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