High Energy Prices

All of us are affected by high energy prices. No one likes them, but we at Hart & Iliff like them less than you do. The margin, or mark-up, we need to make on each gallon we sell remains the same regardless of whether we sell it for $1.50 per gallon or $2.50 per gallon. If it were up to us, we would much rather charge $1.50 per gallon. However, if we put these energy prices in perspective, they’re not so outrageous. Every month we purchase bottled water for the water cooler in our office. It costs $6.50 for a five-gallon bottle, or $1.30 per gallon. If water, which is the most common liquid on earth, is $1.30 per gallon, is it unreasonable for heating oil and gasoline to be selling for more than $2.00 per gallon? In Europe, gasoline and heating oil sell for more than $5.00 per gallon.

Americans have been spoiled by relatively low energy prices. We obviously don’t conserve; we are only 6% of the world’s population but use 25% of the world’s energy. We haven’t maintained the infrastructure needed to keep energy prices low, either. For example, we haven’t built a new refinery in this country in more than 30 years. We have failed to develop energy resources in Alaska even though the residents of Alaska overwhelmingly support it. Lastly, we have failed to generate alternative energy sources.

How long will energy prices remain high? No one knows for sure. However, if you do business with Hart & Iliff, you can rest assured that we will always provide you with outstanding service, charge a fair price and offer you only the most efficient heating and air conditioning equipment available.