All the utilities used to be heavily regulated here too, pdq, but things have changed. We were told that deregulation would accompany the opening up of these public utilities to the private sector and that this would result in cheaper energy costs to the consumer and more efficient servic. That was a bald-faced lie. The services have not improved. The price has doubled.

One thing one can do is switch to a gas furnace, gas being cheaper. Only problem is that to do so costs maybe $20,000 or more...

You can also burn some wood, of course, if it's available. ;-)