Lake Isabella Soon to Have Natural Gas

By: Nick Baker

For years residents of Lake Isabella have to buy propane in order to heat their house, but for most that problem will no longer exist.

Lake Isabella is on schedule to have natural gas lines brought to the village of Lake Isabella. D.T.E should have the lines up and running by the end of the year, giving natural gas to 2/3 of the community.

According to Tim Wolff, Lake Isabella Village Manager, most of the community is happy with addition of natural gas.

“People seem to be very happy with the project,” said Tim. “Those who are not in the area to receive the gas are a little upset, but for the most part I have seen good feed back.”

The construction is a little behind schedule though, due to some hold up with the state. A halt was put on the project in order to make sure that the construction of the gas lines were done properly. Once the state cleared the project it could continue, but the assembly had already been held up for little over a month.

“People were a little upset by the set back,” said Tim, “but now they are happy that it’s almost finished, especially those that are running low on propane.”

For most of the community propane has been the source of their gas, having to drive to store and purchase it by the gallon themselves. And with propane prices at an all time high in the last 18 years, this couldn’t have come at a better time for Lake Isabella Residents.

According to the Energy Information Administration, propane now costs 239 cents per gallon, and with residents using propane to heat their homes, many would be going through countless gallons in order to stay warm this winter.

Now, D.T.E is providing the majority of Lake Isabella with natural gas, saving residents money and allowing them to heat their home for a fraction of the cost.

“I think the community will be glad to have natural gas and I’m glad we could provide it for them,” said Tim Wolff.