No matter how you heat your home, it should cost you less to do it this winter.  That’s a bit of a relief, but it still doesn't mean it's going to be cheap to stay warm. 

If you use natural gas, you can expect to pay about 68 cents per therm, which is actually down 23 cents from last winter. 

Since the average household uses about 830 therms during heating season, your total supply cost should be around $565 -- but keep in mind, you've still got to add at least another $200 or so for delivery and taxes.

If you're worried about keeping up with your bill, consider getting on a budget plan.  It won't get you any special discounts, but it spreads your payments out through the entire year, not just the heating season.

In terms of heating oil prices, which we’ve been tracking over the past year, the average cash price right now is about $2.46 per gallon, which is down nearly 40 cents a gallon from this time last year. 

Over the past several weeks, the price has been slowly creeping up, so if you haven't had a fill-up yet, now is the time to do it. 

For propane customers out there, your average price per gallon today is about $2.15, down nearly 60 cents from a year ago.

Propane customers have a harder time shopping around, since you likely don't own your own tank, but if you get lower quotes from other suppliers, try to negotiate with your dealer. 

Heating oil and propane customers wonder every year whether they should lock-in their price. That's always a gamble, and more often than not, it doesn't pay off.

Supply is up this year, so prices shouldn't jump dramatically. CLICK HERE for our Energy Center to compare prices right now.

Folks who use propane to heat their homes want to know if new tank rental fees appearing on their bills are The Real Deal.

Propane companies are allowed to charge tank rental fees, but they have to be upfront and honest about it in your contract.

If they haven't charged it in the past, they have to give you at least a 30-day notice before they add it to your bill. 

There are some suppliers who build this rental fee into the actual propane price, so you never see it, but there are others who break it out on the bill.

The last propane company to fill up your tank is technically liable for any issues or problems with it; that's why companies typically keep ownership of the tanks and customers essentially borrow them.

It's maddening to open your National Grid bill and see that you're paying more to get gas and electric to you, than you are for the actual commodity itself. 

In the past few months, we've talked with several homeowners, upset that their delivery fee was more than double their supply costs. 

National Grid says normally, that doesn't happen.  But because supply costs have been so low and usage has been down because of the mild weather, delivery fees have seemed higher.

“If customers look at their bill this year compared to last year, they'll see the total bill is down about 17-18 percent in central New York,” said National Grid spokesman Alberto Bianchetti.

Your delivery and supply fees should have leveled off by now, since most of us have had to turn on our furnaces; but even if you don't use any electric or gas, you're still charged monthly to have access to it.

The basic service for natural gas is $17.45 a month; for electric it's $16.21, so you pay $33.66 just to get energy to your home.

“It's taken for granted when you wake up in the morning and turn your light on, it's on when you go downstairs to start your coffee or tea that the gas and electricity is flowing, that's everyday, 24/7,” Bianchetti said.

And then, of course, the costs go up, depending on your usage and other taxes and fees. 

Keep in mind, rates and fees are set by National Grid, but they have to be approved by the Public Service Commission, which earlier this year allowed a $6 per month increase for natural gas customers.

So, if you want to complain, contact the PSC.

They come knocking at your door, trying to get you to switch from National Grid.  Energy salespeople can be pretty pushy, but can they actually help you save money?

These energy salespeople get paid to put the pressure on, but here's what you need to know. They are the suppliers, so even if you switch, National Grid or NYSEG will still deliver your gas and electric. 

If an ESCO, as they're called, shows up at your front door, first make sure they have proper identification. They should all be wearing a photo ID with the name of their company on it.  

Then, ask for information about the company, their rates and get their cancellation policy in writing, so you can review it and contact them by phone if you're interested in switching.

If you do decide on the spot to switch, New York State law gives you three days to cancel the contract if you change your mind.

Typically, these ESCOs promise a seven-percent savings from National Grid for your first few months.  So, if you're going to switch, do it in the dead of winter, where you'll see the most savings. 

After that, our research shows you're only going to save a few pennies at best by switching. 

Be sure to read all the fine print carefully; do not lock into a fixed rate, or fixed contract.

Bottom line, if you want to switch, make sure the company will let you switch back to National Grid if you're not satisfied. 

The Public Service Commission has a website that compares ESCO prices to the utilities.

The ads promise their "miracle" heater can slash your energy bills in half, but is it The Real Deal? 

It doesn't really matter what they call it -- The "Tropic Air Heater," the "Miracle Amish Heater" or "Edenpure” -- these “miracle” heaters are all glorified space heaters; you plug them into the wall and they shoot hot air out in one direction. 

Almost all electric space heaters, no matter the size or cost, give off 5,200 BTUs, meaning you can heat one room at a time with them. 

Unless you shut off your heat and drag one of these around with you wherever you go, they will not cut your heating bills in half, as some ads promise.

You also don't need to spend hundreds of dollars. You can get a space heater at a local hardware store that'll do the exact same thing one of those “miracle” heaters do for under $100.

Just because they look fancier and are more expensive, doesn't mean they'll work any better.

Bottom line, don't expect "miracle" heaters to perform any magic on your heating bills.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Gas prices are on the rise again.  Crude oil prices have been going up and because of that, refiners have been cutting back on production.

The average price of a gallon of gas here in central New York is $2.82.  Just a week ago, we were paying $2.74 a gallon, and one month ago, $2.64. 

Dealing with the increase is one thing, but driving through different towns and seeing a dramatic difference in price is another. 

Gas stations along Route 31 near the Route 81 exit in Cicero typically have the lowest gas prices in central New York.  Drivers can pay 20 to 40 cents lower there than other parts of central New York, so why can't we all pay these prices?

The first reason is obvious: Competition.  With four gas stations in a 500-yard radius, they have to keep undercutting each other to get your business.

Another factor that helps set prices? How far away a station is from its supplier.

The main gas distributor for stations in this area are in Warners, Brewerton, Utica, Rochester, Albany and Binghamton; the further away a station is, the higher the transportation costs, which are passed on to customers. 

Cortland, for example, is just far enough away from all of them, so their costs are higher. 

How often a station gets a fuel delivery also plays a part in how much we pay.  A big station that sells a lot of gas has to buy it every day, and can fluctuate their prices accordingly.  A smaller station may only buy gas once a week, so they're charging the same price for it until it's gone. 

Different stations pay different amounts for the same gas, so there are a lot of variables, but those are the big ones. 

It's hard to not think you're being price gouged when you see a dramatic difference, but according to state law, gouging is inflating prices only during or directly following a natural disaster.  Outside of that, stations can charge whatever they'd like.

Fuel pump inspections happen at every gas station within the county, once a year.  Inspectors typically pump five gallons of each octane into their testing cans to make sure you're getting what you pay for.  

“We can't expect every pump to pump zero at all times -- it's a mechanical device, it's a coercive product, it's going to affect how meters measure,” says gas pump inspector Lon Lowenstein.

On a $3 gallon of gas, the pump can be off by about 4 cents per gallon in either direction and still be in compliance.

If it's off by more than that, in the gas station's favor, it's taken out of service until repairs can be made. 

Last year, of the 3,052 pumps in Onondaga County, only six of them were shut down for that reason. 

Believe it or not, in most cases, when the pumps are off, it's in the favor of the customer. Stations are not notified in advance about inspections.  The county handles that part of it; the state is in charge of taking samples of the fuel itself to make sure the quality is what's promised. They, too, do that annually.

Are credit card users at gas stations being unfairly treated?  Many of you have emailed and called in, wondering just that.

This one of those things that annoys people who don't carry cash: Some gas stations, like the FasTrac in Cicero, advertise two different prices -- one if you pay by credit card, and a cheaper price if you pay cash.

That is legal -- stations get away with it by calling it a "cash discount" rather than a "credit card surcharge," which would be prohibited.

They claim they have to fork over two to three percent of their profit on every credit card sale back to the credit card companies, so they're hoping the discount will encourage cash. 

Another popular question we get from folks about paying with plastic at the pump: In some instances, if you use a debit card, you get hit with a $50 to $100 'hold' on your account. 

This is because you swipe your card before you pump, which means the bank doesn't know exactly how much gas you'll be buying. 

The hold is there to protect the station from getting ripped off, and normally it goes away just a day or so later after the transaction has been processed.  

Not all banks do this, but you'll want to check with yours to make sure you don't overdraw your account without knowing it.

With the average price of gas hovering at $2.82 a gallon in central New York, it's hard to grin and bear it at the pumps -- but don't just be frustrated at the gas station.  A good chunk of what you're paying is taxes. 

No matter where you fill up, the federal government takes a little more than 18 cents a gallon in taxes. 

On top of that, here in New York, the state government has five separate taxes they charge us. Between excise tax, sales tax, a petroleum business tax, a petroleum testing fee and a spill fee, nearly 33 cents of every gallon you buy goes to Albany.

Then, the county takes their four-percent share, so on a gallon of $3 gas, that's another 12 cents, which means you're paying a total of 63 cents in taxes on one gallon of gas.

So, just what is that money being used for? Most is dumped into the general fund, some goes toward maintaining roads and bridges and a small percentage of the money is used for testing, inspections and gasoline clean-up. 

The federal and state taxes are fixed. Most counties take a percentage, which means as gas prices rise, they get more money too.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - It's really not an option anymore – virtually every local gas station is selling E-10, a blend of 90 percent regular gasoline and 10 percent ethanol. 

Most of us probably don't notice a dramatic difference, but we've taken a lot of questions from people who want to know how this affects their car and their mileage. 

If a gas station is selling you E-10, they have to have a sticker on their pump letting you know, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a station that doesn't have one on every pump.

Here's The Real Deal on some of your questions about it: 

Q: Does E-10 decrease your gas mileage?  
A: Yes. Researchers say a tank of E-10 usually results in a three-percent drop in your mileage compared to regular gas. Ethanol has less energy in it, so it takes more of it to get where you're going. 

Q: Will E-10 hurt the engine of my car?
A: No.  Before E-10 was approved for mass distribution, the EPA found it did not damage engine components. The Rochester Institute of Technology also found older cars can handle the blend too. 

Q: Is it okay to use E-10 in my boat, lawn mower, and ATV?
A: Maybe.  E-10 does not damage four-cycle motors, but does have an effect on two-cycle ones. Things like leaf blowers, weed whackers and some outboard boat engines that have to mix the fuel with oil in order to run, may work differently with E-10. 

What happens if you want just plain old regular gas?  You're likely going to be out of luck. Most stations have moved to this blend because it's cheaper to produce, and they likely won't be switching back anytime soon.

The EPA is expected to decide on an E-15 proposal in the next few weeks, but the science shows only flex fuel vehicles can handle anything over E-10, so if approved, E-15 would just be an option at the pumps, not the norm.

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO ANNOUNCES HISTORIC NATIONWIDE REFORM OF CONSUMER REIMBURSEMENT SYSTEM FOR OUT-OF-NETWORK HEALTH CARE CHARGES
 
New Not-For-Profit Company and Upstate Research Network Headquartered at Syracuse University to Develop New Reimbursement Database and Website with Health Care Pricing Information ~ Almost $100 Million in Settlement Money Will Fund the New Reimbursement System, Creating New Jobs and Helping Develop Upstate Economy

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (October 27, 2009) - Attorney General Cuomo today announced historic nationwide reform of the consumer reimbursement system for out-of-network health care charges.  A new not-for-profit company, FAIR Health, Inc., and an upstate research network headquartered at Syracuse University will develop a new independent database for consumer reimbursement and a new website where for the first time consumers can compare prices before they choose their doctors. 

In addition to Syracuse University, the upstate research network consists of the State University of New York (“SUNY”) at Buffalo, Cornell University, University of Rochester, and SUNY Upstate Medical University.  Almost $100 million in settlement money will fund the new reimbursement system, creating jobs and helping develop New York’s upstate economy.  The new database will make FAIR Health a center for health care research and an engine of health care reform.

“FAIR Health and the upstate research network headquartered at Syracuse University will bring much-needed transparency, accountability and fairness to a broken consumer reimbursement system we have called Code Blue,” said Attorney General Cuomo.  “By transforming this system for consumers nationwide, New York proves its reputation as a reform leader for the nation.  By spending almost $100 million in settlement proceeds from health insurers, this initiative will also create new jobs and contribute to the development of the upstate economy which is vital to New York.  Today is truly a triple win for consumers, New York and the nation.”

Nancy Ann DeParle, Director of the White House Office of Health Reform, said, “This is an important step forward for consumers, who too often are unable to penetrate the secrecy and bureaucracy of insurance companies. Transparency is one of the central goals of health insurance.
For consumers struggling to navigate today's health insurance system, knowledge is power.  President Obama is working with Congress to enact health insurance reform that will protect Americans against unfair insurance industry practices.  We applaud the steps taken by Attorney General Cuomo and the state of New York to give consumers the ability to make informed decisions when purchasing health insurance.”

Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, said: “This is an important victory for everybody who believes there needs to be more transparency and accountability in the health insurance industry. I congratulate Attorney General Cuomo and his tenacious attorneys for forcing the insurance industry to finally end a practice that has shortchanged American consumers by billions of dollars.  These Ingenix databases are riddled with errors and conflicts of interest.  They produce numbers only an insurance company could love.  Building on the great work of Attorney General Cuomo's office to set up this new database, I believe we can pursue reforms at the national level to make sure consumers in every state get the full value health benefits they were promised by their health insurers.” 

Today’s announcement arises from a wide-ranging investigation by Cuomo’s office into how the health insurance industry reimburses consumers for out-of-network health care charges.  The investigation uncovered a fraudulent and conflict-of-interest ridden reimbursement system affecting millions of patients and their families and costing Americans hundreds of millions of dollars in unexpected and unjust medical costs.
 
The research for the new database will be centered at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, a public affairs school which includes health policy, and the School of Information Studies (known as the “iSchool”), both of which were ranked the best in their fields by U.S. News & World Report in 2008 and 2009.

The research project will be led by Dr. Deborah A. Freund, Distinguished Professor of Public Administration at Syracuse University.
 The other upstate research universities, SUNY at Buffalo, Cornell University, University of Rochester, and SUNY Upstate Medical University, will bring a diverse and critical range of talents and expertise as members of the upstate research network. 

In addition to creating and managing the new database, FAIR Health and the upstate research network will design a new consumer web site where, for the first time, patients around the country can find out in advance how much they are likely to be reimbursed for out-of-network health care services in their area. Information in the new database will be made available for academic research, and the database itself, in non-industry hands for the first time, is expected to make FAIR Health a significant driver in health care reform efforts.
 
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S INVESTIGATION
 
The creation of FAIR Health and the upstate research network is the culmination of Attorney General Cuomo’s longstanding, nationwide healthcare reform investigation into the defective and conflict-ridden Ingenix database. Ingenix, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth, was used by insurers nationwide to set reimbursement rates when patients went out of network for health services. The Attorney General’s investigation found that as a subsidiary of the second-largest insurer in the nation, Ingenix had a vested interest in helping set rates low, so companies could underpay patients for out-of-network services.
 
The investigation revealed that the database intentionally skewed “usual and customary” rates downward through faulty data collection, poor pooling procedures, and the lack of audits, meaning consumers were forced to pay more than they should have.  The rate of underpayment by insurers ranged from ten to twenty-eight percent for various medical services across the state.  The Attorney General found that having a health insurer determine the “usual and customary”
rate - a large portion of which the insurer then reimburses - creates an incentive for the insurer to manipulate the rate downward.

Approximately 70 percent of insured working families have out-of-network plans that let them choose their own doctors and the system impacts one in three individuals, or over 110 million people nationwide.
 
TIMELINE
 
Beginning in January, Attorney General Cuomo secured agreements with every national and regional health insurer operating in New York State to end their use of the Ingenix database and financially commit to the new, independent database:
   
? January 13, 2009: UnitedHealth Group Inc. agrees to shut down the Ingenix database and contribute $50 million towards the new, independent database.
? January 15, 2009: Aetna agrees to end its relationship with Ingenix and contribute $20 million towards the new, independent database.
? February 2, 2009: Aetna also agrees to reimburse over 73,000 students at over 200 colleges nationwide for underpaying out-of-network claims.
? February 4, 2009: MVP Health Care agrees to end its relationship with Ingenix and contribute $535,000 towards the new, independent database.
? February 4, 2009: Cuomo announces intent to sue Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan for defrauding consumers across New York by manipulating rates.
? February 10, 2009: Independent Health and Health Now, New York Inc.
agree to end their relationships with Ingenix and contribute $475,000 and $212,500, respectively, to fund the new database.
? February 17, 2009: CIGNA agrees to end its relationship with Ingenix and contribute $10 million towards the new, independent database.
? February 17, 2009: Cuomo announces intent to sue Excellus Health Plan for defrauding consumers across New York by manipulating rates.
? February 18, 2009: WellPoint, Inc. agrees to end its relationship with Ingenix and contribute $10 million towards the new database.
? March 3, 2009: Guardian Life Insurance Company of America agrees to end its relationship with Ingenix and contribute $500,000 towards the new database.
? March 5, 2009: Excellus Health Plan and Capital District Physician’s Plan agree to end their relationships with Ingenix and contribute $775,000 and $300,000, respectively, toward the new database.
The companies also agree to re-process claims over the past six years and reimburse members who were underpaid.
? March 10, 2009: GHI and HIP agree to end their relationships with Ingenix and contribute $1.5 million towards the new database ? June 18, 2009: Health Net agrees to end its relationship with Ingenix and contribute $1.6 million towards the new database.
 
Attorney General Cuomo also worked with the New York State Department of Insurance to establish a new insurance regulation to codify his efforts and ensure they become industry standard. The new Insurance regulation will govern health and accident insurers as well as health maintenance organizations (“HMOs”) that promise to reimburse consumers who go out of network based on the usual and customary rate of the service provided. It requires them to use an independent source for establishing usual and customary rates, as well as disclose to their members how and by whom the rates were established. 

Stephen A. Warnke, Interim Chairman of the FAIR Health Board, said “Everyone agrees that to fix our health care system, we need accurate data on what health care services actually cost and how they are priced. Working with Syracuse University and its upstate partners, FAIR Health fills this crucial void by promising data that will be transparent, objectively validated and broadly available both to consumers and to academic researchers.  Its launch could not be better timed.”
 
INDUSTRY-WIDE SUPPORT FOR REFORM
 
Dr. Reed Tuckson, chief medical officer and executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group, said, “We have long believed that better information will enable consumers to make sounder, more informed decisions about their health care. We stand ready to work with FAIR Health and the research consortium led by Syracuse University, an academic institution with a rich tradition of excellence, on an expeditious transition of the database so that it will be able to develop its own methodology and launch the new database as soon as practicable for the benefit of health care consumers across the country.”

American Medical Association Board Member William A. Dolan, M.D., said, “The American Medical Association commends Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for the landmark achievements of forcing health insurers to end to a rigged system for setting payments and successfully negotiating a transition to a more transparent system.  The cumulative impact of these achievements will bring national reforms that will benefit tens of million of Americans who receive care outside their insurer’s network of physicians.”

David T. Hannan, MD, MPH, President of the Medical Society of the State of New York, said, “Today is a significant day in the movement to achieve more affordable, accessible and quality healthcare for New Yorkers.  On behalf of New York physicians, the Medical Society of the State of New York applauds and thanks Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, along with his outstanding staff, for completing his promise - and our goal - of ending the health insurance industry’s practice of paying unfairly low reimbursement payments to its member patients who used out-of-network healthcare services. We believe that the replacement of the Ingenix database will be a significant healthcare reform achievement toward that end.”

Chuck Bell, Programs Director for Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, said, “Today’s announcement represents a huge leap forward in fixing the out-of-network reimbursement system to make it work fairly for the public. FAIR Health will ensure the rules of the road are fair for both health providers and consumers.  This comprehensive resolution of these issues has national impact and will benefit consumers throughout the entire country.”

FAIR HEALTH SCHOOLS

Syracuse University Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor said, “This is a critical research collaboration and it is all as result of Attorney General Cuomo’s efforts to ensure consumers receive the health care reimbursements they are entitled to, and that the process is open and transparent  The project will involve the best work from our Maxwell health economists to leading technologists in our iSchool, all of whom will be joining with their colleagues from our partner universities to do this critical work. The universities engaged in this project-all of them anchor institutions in their communities across Upstate-are doing what they do best: bringing their expertise to the table and partnering with the Attorney General and FAIR Health, all for the public good, and to help make Upstate New York the intellectual capital of the nation for development, use and understanding of health care data.”

University of Rochester President Joel Seligman said, “I applaud Attorney General Cuomo’s efforts to ensure that patients and families are treated fairly and given access to information they need when it comes to out-of-network reimbursement.  We are excited to play a role in this initiative and look forward to having the University of Rochester’s School of Nursing and researcher Irena Pesis-Katz being integral members of the FAIR team.”

Cornell President David J. Skorton said, “We are proud to be part of this innovative and far-reaching reform, which will substantially improve the health care reimbursement system.  Working families across the nation will be helped by having a fair and transparent health care database to guide the reimbursement of out-of-network services.  We look forward to our collaboration with other New York universities and we applaud Attorney General Cuomo for leading the way in this progressive reform.”

Russell W. Bessette MD, Associate-Vice-President for Health Sciences and Director of Health Information Technology at University at Buffalo/SUNY, said, “The Academic Health Center at the University of Buffalo applauds Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s announcement to create Fair Health as a transparent and patient-centered database focused on better healthcare for all New Yorkers.  We are particularly thrilled that his vision included the University at Buffalo as one of the four research centers tasked to conduct research in creating the next generation of fair and impartial measures which can guide patients
in selecting treatment options and healthcare providers.”    

Upstate Medical University President David R. Smith, M.D., said, “We are pleased to participate in this collaborative research project. The accurate processing and analysis of health claims data is extremely important within the healthcare industry.”

SUPPORT FROM LAWMAKERS

Senator John L. Sampson, Majority Conference Leader said, “New Yorkers work too hard and pay too much for their healthcare to allow insurers to take even more of their hard-earned money.  We commend Attorney General Cuomo for putting consumers first and holding big insurance companies accountable.”

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, “I commend Attorney General Cuomo for his efforts to ensure accuracy and transparency of the health insurance reimbursement system.  Amid the current economic crisis, New York's families are struggling to make ends meet and it is imperative that there are safeguards in place to prevent them from falling victim to fraud.  The creation of a truly independent database to establish estimated reimbursement rates will help to end the conflicts of interest that have long plagued the health care system and will allow consumers to make more informed choices when selecting health care providers.”

Senator Neil Breslin, Chair of the Senate Insurance Committee, said, “Consumers have a right to know what it will cost them to seek medical care if they need to go outside of their health insurer’s provider network to receive treatment. The establishment of this new and independent database will ensure that costs for those treatments are both fair and accurate, while at the same time making health insurance more affordable and available.”

Senator David Valesky said, “I applaud Attorney General Cuomo’s efforts to not only reform the health care industry across our nation, but also shining a light on the talent we have in our upstate communities. This initiative will help patients across the country recognize what the fair reimbursement rates are for out-of-network care and eliminate a major conflict of interest that has plagued the industry for too long.”

Assemblywoman Joan Christensen said, “Attorney General Cuomo continues to show a real commitment to the citizens of our entire state.
This initiative will bring positive attention to our upstate communities and deliver groundbreaking results to help families who are struggling with health care costs. This is a win-win solution that captures the essence of New York’s reputation as a leading state in the U.S.”

Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli said, “I am thrilled that New York state will be the epicenter of smart, innovative and revolutionary change in the health insurance industry. The ‘brain-trust’ of upstate is more than capable to bring about the reform we need to make sure that prices for medical care are kept under control. Attorney General Cuomo and his staff are to be commended for uncovering the wrongdoing and turning it into a positive development for our state and our country.”

Assemblyman Al Stirpe said, “Today’s announcement is the culmination of months of tireless reform efforts on the part of Attorney General Cuomo and his office. After settling with every major health insurer operating in New York State and collecting over $100 million to fund this new database, the Attorney General today is taking the first step to actually rebuild this broken system and replace it with one that works and protects hundreds of millions of patients nationwide.”

Syracuse Mayor Matthew Driscoll said, “This landmark reform will draw from the powerful resources of an expansive upstate network to affect health care reform nationwide and stimulate the upstate economy.  With Syracuse University serving as the hub of this extraordinary transformation of our health care system, upstate New York will become the national leader in providing vital health data.  Further, the FAIR Health system will create real, secure, and crucial jobs and invest up to $100 million throughout Syracuse and upstate New York.  Thanks to Attorney General Cuomo, our best and brightest will now ensure the success of the most significant health care reform in a generation”

Today’s announcement is the result of an investigation by Acting Chief of the Health Care Bureau James E. Dering, Senior Trial Counsel Kathryn E. Diaz, and Assistant Attorneys General Brant Campbell and Sandra Abeles, under the direction of Linda A. Lacewell, the head of the Attorney General’s Healthcare Industry Taskforce.
 
In January, Cuomo also issued a report on his investigation, “Health Care Report: The Consumer Reimbursement System is Code Blue.”  The report highlights the conflicts of interest and other defects in the current system and calls for the reforms announced today.  To access the report, get consumer tips for out-of-network care, or to file a complaint, please visit www.oag.state.ny.us.

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The power company is asking us to commit to use 3% less power?  Here's the real deal:

The state has asked utilities to outline a plan for energy consumption and educate their customers about it. 

National grid has set-up this website, powerofaction.com. They ask you questions ranging from what kind of appliances you have, to how you get around, even whether you eat red meat and then give you advice on how you can do all of it more efficiently. 

But your stories viewers want to make sure, if they do their part, National Grid will too.  Pat Hunt asks, “If I conserve, won't National Grid have to up their prices to make up the difference?”

The company says their supply prices are based solely on the market--not how much gas or electric they sell to each homeowner.

Your delivery rates could change slightly too by conserving. But keep in mind, National Grid has a base price of $31 dollars a month for delivery of Natural Gas and Electric, even if you don't use any of it -- So you'll always have to pay that plus the amount calculated by your usage. 

A company trying to make money on your fears about how much it'll cost to stay warm this winter is running this next ad.  They want to sell you a "Miracle" Heater.  Bottom line:  this product is far from a "miracle" so, don't be fooled.

That is an overstatement, to say the least. It is a glorified space heater. You plug it into the wall and use it in one room at a time.  Unless you're going to turn the heat off in your whole home and pull this around with you whenever you move, you will not save 50% on your bill with this heater

The ad makes it sound like you're getting some special deal on it too. But if you go to the company's website, you'll see the same heater sells for the same price with free shipping everyday. 

Which means, there's no need to rush out to one of the local events they're holding to get this special heater.  You can go to the hardware store and get one that works just as well for half the price.

There will be other companies claiming they've got the magic heater that'll help you slash your bills this winter.  They'll take out full page ads in the paper, set-up store-fronts and try to lure you in with coupons. If you're trying to heat just one small room, a space heater may do the trick but there are plenty of options out there for less than a hundred bucks.

This ad, urges you to call your federal lawmakers and tell them you're against a soda and juice tax. The Real Deal? There isn't even a soda or juice tax being considered by Congress right now, so what's the point of running the commercials? 

The group behind this ad is called American's Against Food Tax.  It's made up mostly of food manufacturers, grocers and convenience stores.
Even though there is no current Federal legislation that would impose a tax on soda and juice, they don't want to take any chances. 

Especially since President Obama recently floated the idea in an interview, saying a soda tax could be something for congress to consider as they debate healthcare reform.

You'll remember, Governor Paterson proposed an 15% tax on sugary drinks here in New York late last year but that was dropped amidst heavy opposition. 

Senator Chuck Schumer tells us, "now is not the time and this is not the place to do the soda tax.  It will not be part of health care reform"-- still the ads will run because the group says they don't want any lobbyists changing lawmakers minds.