Students living off campus should expect to pay more for their natural gas this winter, but not as much as they may fear.

According to the Iowa Utilities Board, the projected increase is 31 percent to 44 percent, if Iowa has a mild or normal winter, but it could reach a 48 percent increase if it is a colder winter.

“These calculations looked at a random sample of the average residential household,” said Rob Hillesland, information specialist for the Iowa Utilities Board.

He said the sample assumes the average household uses 590 therms during the winter. A therm is equal to 100,000 BTUs, and one BTU is the measurement of the amount of energy it takes to heat one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit at sea level.

According to data compiled and provided by the Iowa Utilities Board, utility costs are expected to rise $38 a month this winter – November to March – as compared to last year’s figures. Costs could increase $58 if this winter is colder than normal.

Hurricane Katrina did have a minor effect on costs as well. Before Katrina’s assault on the Gulf Coast, the estimated increase this year was $28.

But students still have options to save money.

Scott Drzycimski, spokesperson for Alliant Energy, said there is plenty students can do to help reduce their costs. He suggested students who are renting should weather-proof their windows and get threshold protectors.

“Weather-proofing windows can double the effectiveness of keeping heat in on a single pane window,” Drzycimski said.

He said the budget-billing program offered by Alliant Energy could also be useful for students because it “takes the spikes out of the bills.”

“The budget billing program evens out the number [on the bill] throughout the year,” Drzycimski said.

Drzycimski said people who own their homes can make upgrades to more energy efficient appliances as well as buy some caulk to fix any leaks in window seams or door jams.

“Studies have shown that $50 in caulking can save $150 through the winter,” he said.

Drzycimski’s last tip was to lower the temperature in the apartment or house. He cautioned not to lower it so far that pipes freeze. He suggested instead lowering it a few degrees and wearing an extra layer of clothes.

Students staying in the residence halls shouldn’t feel the strain as much as those off campus.

Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance, said the ISU power plant uses coal as the primary energy source, of which Iowa State has an excess.

Madden said the increased costs in diesel fuel to transport the coal to Iowa State will have a financial impact on the university, but shouldn’t be significant. He said the impact on the university financial situation could be approximately $200,000 to $300,000.

“We don’t have a plan or the resources to increase funding [for fuel costs], so the departments will have to adjust for the costs,” he said. Harry Hillaker, state climatologist for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, said the long-range outlook is difficult to determine for this year.

“Generally, our most useful tool is to look at what is happening in the tropical regions … especially if there is an El Nino or a La Nina developing,” he said. “We have neither this year, so that gives us less to look at.”

Hillaker said the good news is the National Weather Service is predicting warmer temperatures for January and February.

He said even if the Midwest has a mild winter, we could still see a jump in natural gas costs if the New England area has a colder than average winter.