Compared with last year, it costs twice as much to fuel the flame at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, a mortuary and crematory in this military town on the outskirts of the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base. Eternal Hills explored raising prices to help pay energy bills but backed off when federal regulators said a surcharge could not be applied. General manager George Hubbard said it still is a small price to pay for the flame, which is surrounded by flags and granite slabs bearing the names of local veterans from all branches of the military. So the flame costs more. We eat it.
Gas prices are up around the country.
Washington Gas Co. said the cemetery is charged a fixed rate and uses the same amount of gas each month.