Natural Gas Bills

The following information is directly from SoCal Gas.

An unprecedented cold snap across the nation in part has caused natural gas market prices in the West to more than double between December and January - much higher than expected. As a result, SoCalGas residential customers can expect the typical January bill likely to be more than double the typical bill last January. Customers can expect to see changes in their natural gas bills this winter due to the rise in natural gas prices. If your residential peak winter bill was around $65 last winter, you can expect to see bills closer to $160 this year. Similarly, if it was around $130 last winter, customers can expect to see bills around $315 this year. These increases are primarily due to increases in the price of gas and to a much lesser extent increased transportation rates. Our rates for the transportation of natural gas are set by the California Public Utilities Commission, which reviews these rates yearly.

To keep monthly bills as low as possible, SoCalGas is offering tips, tools, and programs designed to assist you in find what works best for your home or business.

• Bill Tracker Alerts are a great way to monitor consumption to help gauge the amount of your next bill and enrollment is easy, just complete an energy profile through Ways to Save online tool and it will provide you with a personalized plan to track progress.
• Customer assistance programs; Qualifying customers may be eligible for a variety of program options. The CARE program offers a 20% bill discount, the Energy Savings Assistance Program offers no-cost home improvements, and customers with a qualifying medical condition may be eligible for additional natural gas at the lowest baseline rate through the Medical Baseline Allowance.
• Bill payment options the Level Pay Plan which spreads out of your monthly costs by calculating the average of what you spend. It then gives you the amount you'll pay each month for a six-month interval.

Several unprecedented events occurring simultaneously over the last few weeks have contributed to the rising price of natural gas:

• Widespread, below-normal temperatures
• High natural gas consumption
• Reduced natural gas flows
• Pipeline constraints, including maintenance in West Texas

For more information on natural gas prices and predictions, visit https://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/weekly/

We have been and will continue to be diligent in informing our customers about winter gas prices to keep them informed and help empower them with important information to assist them through this tough time. Here are some useful tips to help customers reduce natural gas usage, keeping in mind that not every one of these tips will work for everyone:

• Lowering your thermostat three to five degrees - if health permits - can save up to 10 percent on heating costs.   
• Installing proper caulking and weather-stripping can save roughly 10 to 15 percent on heating and cooling bills. 
• Washing clothes in cold water saves up to 10 percent on water heating costs.
• Consider turning down the temperature on your water heater. 
• Limit the use of non-essential natural gas appliances such as spas, pool heaters, and fireplaces.  

For more information on bills and how to lower your costs, please visit the website SoCalGas .

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