Peoples Gas Company residential rates increased the most-- 154.6 percent-- and Columbia Gas customers saw the lowest increase-- 31.2 percent.
The major natural gas utilities saw these increases--
-- Peoples Gas Co. (residential) 154.6% increase
-- Philadelphia Gas Works 152.2% increase
-- Peoples Natural Gas Co. 142.3% increase
-- National Fuel Gas 134.7% increase
-- PECO Gas 86.3% increase
-- UGI Gas Division 41.5% increase
-- Columbia Gas 31.2% increase
Natural gas customers are seeing the biggest increase in energy charges because of the natural gas cost spikes on foreign energy markets caused by the Russian war in Ukraine and by increasing exports of U.S. natural gas in the form of LNG to Europe and Asia. [Read more here.]
Over half of Pennsylvania households use natural gas as their primary home heating fuel. [Read more here.]
On August 10, the Public Utility Commission also warned customers of major electric utilities their rates will increase by as much as 19 percent this quarter starting on September 1. These increases are also driven by the cost of natural gas-fired generation and hot weather demand. [Read more here.]
Both natural gas and electric utilities adjust the rates they charge their customers for energy every quarter, either up or down, depending on the price of natural gas or electricity they buy.
Shop For Competitive Rates
Customers of both natural gas and electric utilities can shop for independent providers of natural gas and electricity and are not locked in to the price charged by utilities.
Only 14 percent of residential customers got their natural gas from competitive suppliers in 2020. [Read more here.]
Natural gas customers can go to the PUC’s PA Gas Switch website and electric customers to PA Power Switch websites to learn more about their options.
Next Quarterly Rate Changes
The next quarterly rate increases/decreases by natural gas companies will be starting September 1, October 1 and November 1, depending what schedule the utilities are on.
Here are the details of how utility natural gas charges increased in the past year, along with their next expected quarterly rate change date--
National Fuel Gas 134.7% increase
May 1, 2021 Annual Review $3.8520
August 1, 2022 $9.0436
Nov. 1, 2022 (next increase/decrease)
Philadelphia Gas Works 152.2% increase
June 1, 2021 Annual Review $3.5700
June 1, 2022 $9.0057
Sept. 1, 2022 (next increase/decrease)
Columbia Gas 31.2% increase
July 1, 2021 Annual Review $3.8512
July 1, 2022 $5.0583
Oct. 1, 2022 (next increase/decrease)
Peoples Gas Co. (residential) 154.6% increase
July 1, 2021 Annual Review $4.0174
July 1, 2022 $10.2312
Oct. 1, 2022 (next increase/decrease)
Peoples Natural Gas Co. 142.3% increase
July 1, 2021 Annual Review $3.9015
July 1, 2022 $9.4567
Oct. 1, 2022 (next increase/decrease)
UGI Gas Division 41.5% increase
Sept. 1, 2021 Annual Review $5.1283
June 1, 2022 $7.2615
Sept. 1, 2022 (next increase/decrease)
PECO Gas 86.3% increase
Sept. 1, 2021 Annual Review $4.0245
June 1, 2022 $7.5016
Sept. 1, 2022 (next increase/decrease)
Click Here for a table showing 2021 - 2022 quarterly price changes and next scheduled changes.
Click Here for a table showing 2022 - 2023 quarterly prices changes and next scheduled changes.
NewsClips:
-- PA PUC Investigates 32%+ Rate Increase By Leatherstocking Natural Gas Company
-- PA PUC Holds Hearing On Valley Energy 11.8% Natural Gas Increase
-- Inquirer - Andrew Maykuth: Philadelphia Natural Gas Works Proposes To Cap Its Weather Normalization Charge To Prevent Future Billing Mayhem
-- WV Metro News: WV Public Service Commission Warns Utility Customers Of 173% Increase In Natural Gas Rates Coming This Fall
Related Article This Week:
-- Inside Climate News: Q/A: Eliza Griswold Reflects On Her Book - A Deep Dive Into Fracking In Southwest PA And How Extractive Industries ‘Gut’ Communities - By David Shribman, Former Editor Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [PaEN]
-- Yale School Of Public Health Study Found PA Children 2 To 3 Times More Likely To Be Diagnosed With Leukemia If They Live Near Unconventional Shale Gas Facilities [PaEN]
Related Articles:
-- TribLive Guest Essay: Time For Pennsylvania’s Real Energy Freedom - Sharon Pillar, PA Solar Center
-- Wilkes-Barre Times Guest Essay: Key To Lower Energy Prices Is Renewable Energy & Storage - Sharon Pillar, PA Solar Center
-- Baker Hughes PA Natural Gas Drill Rig Count Down 2 From Last Week - 23 [8.12.22]
[Posted: August 17, 2022] PA Environment Digest
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