A couple days of chilly weather in late October and a more persistent round of icy temperatures now are a reminder that winter is coming.

They have also brought the reality for many that those heating bills are about to start rising rapidly.

About 350 to 500 applications per week have been flowing in for residents requesting energy assistance, said Pam Wild, Minnesota Valley Action Council Energy Program coordinator. The agency is in charge of distributing about $3 million in funding to people who qualify in eight counties around Mankato.

“We’re steadily working through the pile,” she said. “Some have huge heating bills they’re trying to pay off and our first priority is to help the people who were shut off last year.”

Many who lost their natural gas service last year won’t get service this year until their bills are paid. Others who aren’t paid up for last year’s propane or heating oil deliveries are being told they need to pay cash for a new delivery.

Overall, the requests this year haven’t outpaced last year and there is currently plenty of assistance money to go around, Wild said. But that could change because it has been estimated that the price for natural gas could go up 30 to 40 percent when people are also worried about a slowing economy.

“I think with the economic situation the way it is, we have a lot of people unable to deal with those extraordinary heat costs,” Wild said.

Mark Novak, CenterPoint Energy home service supervisor, said the natural gas provider hopes those predictions were high. But he’s still encouraging people to follow several conservation tips.

CenterPoint provides home audits, at a cost of $15, that provide tips for keeping heat in and cold air out. Those tips include window caulking and fully insulating attic doors. Some products used for doing the work are provided during the audit.

Novak also encourages customers to use CenterPoint’s budget plan, which helps avoid huge heating bills during the coldest winter months.

A few tips from Mankato Plumbing and Heating owner Shawn Wenner include changing furnace filters regularly, installing a programmable thermostat that can automatically lower the heat at night or when no one is home and regular furnace maintenance.

If filters get clogged, air flow is reduced too much and furnaces can’t work efficiently, Wenner said. Dirty burners also keep furnaces from burning efficiently.

Funding for furnace repairs or replacements are also available through the Minnesota Valley Action Council, Wild said. Of the $3 million available, about $833,000 can be used for crisis situations and $139,000 can be used for furnace repairs.

To qualify for the heating assistance program, a family of four must have a monthly income below $3,395 per year. The telephone number to schedule an appointment in Blue Earth County is 345-6822. To have an application mailed, call 800-767-7139.

For more income qualification information or the appointment numbers for other counties, go to www.mnvac.org.