Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- Ski resorts may find it too expensive to make snow for the rest of the season because if snow making machines are turned on, resort owners say National Grid tacks on an extra charge on top of their energy usage.
It’s called the “demand charge” and it resets every month. The charge is the same if resorts run snow-makers for one day, or every single day for a month. The owner of Song Mountain Resort Peter Harris says the charge costs him up to $15,000.
Resort owners are now left to decide if making snow this month is worth it.
“We typically try to get all our snow making done in the months of December and January,” said Harris.
He says he's open to making snow this February, but right now it’s just too warm.
“Single digits and low humidity is ideal snow-making weather. But anywhere in the low 20s, high teens is good,” Harris continued.
To justify paying National Grid's demand charge, and turning on the snow makers, he needs a long cold-spell.
“One day is a little short. The longer the window the better,” Harris said.
Harris says manmade snow can weather warm days once it's made. He says Manmade snow is denser than regular snow. Still, only a few skiers are taking advantage of the manmade snow.
Skier Erin Hull says, “You can get right up, there’s not long lift lines...It’s warm. It’s not uncomfortable. It’s great and they’ve done a great job making snow so there’s a lot of snow on the hill.”
Ski instructors say the snow is a little hard for beginners, but not impossible.
“The more snow the better, the softer it is, so if they fall it’s a lot softer,” said Ski and Snowboard Instructor, David Evangelista.
Whether natural or manmade, Skiers will have to keep praying for more snow.
More on 9WSYR.com: NewsChannel 9 Ski Report http://www.9wsyr.com/content/weather/ski_report.aspx?=viawxcontrol
