A driver for Simple Energy

In Vermont, the state is available by calling 211 to help with housing needs during “cold weather exceptions,” which is when temperatures or wind chill are less than 20 degrees or when temperatures are less than 32 degrees and there is a more than 50 percent chance of precipitation. The state can put people in hotels, but Kobylenski said that due to state budget cuts, the state is turning away more people than it did last year, which means those people then often arrive at the Haven. The Haven tries to exhaust other housing possibilities, such staying with a relative or friend, but will provide hotel vouchers if there are no other options. Kobylenski said she hopes the warming shelter would decrease the number of hotel vouchers that are currently needed and encourage people to come inside who might not currently be asking for help. Wednesday afternoon, large stacks of water softener and bags of salt were covered with snow and lined the front sidewalk leading up to LaValley Building Supply. A green and red sign also advertised wood pellets, but LaValley has been running low on the stove fuel this winter. Because of the high demand for pellets, LaValley’s supplier hasn’t been able to keep up a supply. On Dec. 19, LaValley had a waiting list for 40 tons of wood pellets. Last week, 25 tons were delivered, but all of that supply went directly to people who were already on the waiting list. Currently, LaValley has 24 tons on a waiting list. Assistant manager John Jackman said he hopes to get another supply within three weeks.“I think this year there is just a lot more people who put in a pellet heating system, and we weren’t expecting the demand,” general manager Lucas Seaver said. “In the past, oil, propane and electric have gone up in price, but pellets have stayed pretty stable.” The Dartmouth Skiway is also taking precautions because of the cold temperatures and will be closed today. The facility will use the time to repair the Winslow lift, which was closed a little after noon on Thursday so the hydraulic ram could be repaired. When temperatures get extremely cold, the skiway sees fewer skiers, said Doug Holler, general manager, and safety of skiers and staff becomes a concern. The hydraulic ram that needs repair controls the tension of the wire cable that carries lifts and skiers up the mountain. But Holler said the lift is still functional and there was no risk to safety.“We just want to take advantage of it before (the lift) fails at an untimely time,” Holler said. The cold weather also causes heating companies like Simple Energy in West Lebanon to see a spike in calls. Whenever the temperature drops to below 10 degrees, the company’s call volume can double, service manager Gordon Cruz said. Like many heating companies, managers are always on call to respond to customer’s requests, and Cruz said he often receives emergency calls for frozen pipes, low fuel levels and insufficient heat or no heat. When temperatures drop, furnaces have to work extra hard to heat a home, causing the volume of fuel being used to increase. Cruz said it’s important for homeowners to check their fuel levels on a regular basis and when temperatures are dropping. A home could go from having a quarter of a tank to a dangerously low level very quickly.