PUC Urges Natural Gas Customers To Explore Ways To Reduce Heating Costs; All But One Major Gas Utility Has Increased Cost Of Gas In PA

On December 20, the Public Utility Commission encouraged natural gas customers to take control of their heating bills with a simple Winter Utility Bill Checklist. By acting now, consumers can reduce energy usage, lower costs, and access assistance if needed.

“Recent changes in natural gas prices and colder weather can impact utility bills this winter,” said PUC Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank. “The good news is there are steps you can take to manage energy use, compare costs, and find help if you’re struggling.”

In fact, every gas distribution utility in Pennsylvania has increased the cost of the gas they provide to non-shopping customers since this summer.

Your Winter Utility Bill Checklist

The PUC highlights five simple steps to help Pennsylvanians stay warm and save money-- 

-- Review your utility bills – Know your energy usage and the rates you’re paying.

-- Understand winter weather’s impact – Colder temperatures mean heating systems work harder.

-- Check your natural gas price – Compare the utility Price to Compare (PTC) with competitive supplier offers.

-- Save energy where you can – Small changes, like lowering your thermostat, can add up.

-- #CallUtilitiesNow for help – If you’re struggling with bills, contact your utility for information on assistance programs.

Your Natural Gas Bill

Natural gas bills have two main parts:

-- Delivery charges – These cover the cost of pipelines and infrastructure, and this portion of your monthly bill supports your local utility.

-- Supply charges – This is the cost of the gas you use, determined either by a competitive supplier or your utility’s PTC.

While delivery charges stay steady, supply charges will fluctuate with wholesale energy market prices and can vary greatly, driven by global demands and factors like extreme winter. 

Gas supply costs, on which a natural gas distribution company (NGDC) cannot make a profit, are reflected in the NGDC’s Price to Compare.

Examples of price to compare--

-- Columbia Gas of PA - $0.2833 per therm (likely PTC adjustment on 1/1/2025) [the cost on Oct. 1 was 0.28273]

-- National Fuel Gas - $0.4016 per Ccf [the cost on Oct. 31 was 0.37876]

-- PECO - $0.4861 per Ccf [the cost on Nov. 30 was 0.45323]

-- Peoples Natural Gas Co. - $2.2792 per Mcf (likely PTC adjustment on 1/1/2025) [the cost on Oct. 1 was 2.2792]

-- Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) - $0.4050 per Ccf [the cost on Sept. 1 was 0.3475]

-- UGI Utilities - $0.5813 per Ccf [the cost on Nov. 30 was 0.46946]

-- Valley Energy Inc. - $0.3457 per Ccf [no previous costs online]

Customers can find their PTC on monthly bills and compare offers using the PUC’s natural gas shopping website, PAGasSwitch.com.  Past prices to compare are also available.

Top Energy-Saving Tips

Small changes can make a big difference--

-- Lower your thermostat: Each degree lower saves up to 3%.

-- Service your furnace: Clean filters boost efficiency.

-- Seal drafts and insulate: Keep cold air out.

-- Adjust your water heater: Lowering the temperature can cut costs.

-- Use ceiling fans wisely: Reverse them to push warm air down.

Visit PAGasSwitch.com for interactive tools and more energy-saving ideas.

Struggling with High Bills? Act Now.

If you’re falling behind or worried about winter bills, don’t wait – #CallUtilitiesNow. Utilities can connect you to programs like--

-- Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs)

-- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

-- Hardship funds through utilities and community organizations

Talking directly with your utility is the best first step. Utilities can explain options, help you enroll in programs, and work out payment plans.

If you can’t resolve an issue with your utility, contact the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Services at 1-800-692-7380.

Click Here for PUC release.

Resource Links:

-- PUC: Natural Gas Distribution Companies Prepare For Winter - Gas Consumption Expected To Decrease 1.8%, Cost For Residential Customers To Increase 1%  [PaEN] 

-- PUC Encourages Consumers To Prepare For Dec. 1 Electricity Price Changes; Rates Will Vary From 8.4% Decrease To 31.2% Increase  [PaEN]

-- PJM CEO Expresses Concern About Electric Generating Capacity: Higher Prices Have Incentivized Some Generators, But Building Gas Generators Has Slowed, Permitting, Supply Chain Issues Hamper Renewables  [PaEN]

-- PUC Invites Stakeholder Comments On The Issue Of The Adequacy Of Electricity Supplies In Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard- Feb. 3 to 9 [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - December 21 [PaEN]  

-- DEP Posted 63 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In December 21 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]  

Related Articles:

-- Save The Date: Feb. 27 - Shale Gas And Public Health Conference, Duquesne University  [PaEN]  

-- EarthWorks Blog: Common Sense Needed In The Commonwealth - How To Protect Pennsylvanians From The Environmental, Health Impacts Of The Oil & Gas Industry - By Melissa Ostroff & Charlie Palladino, EarthWorks  [PaEN]

-- PUBLIC NOTICE: Proposed Oil & Gas Well Plugging Settlement With Diversified Energy, EQT May Affect Pennsylvania Surface Landowner Rights; Apply To Have A Well Plugged  [PaEN] 

-- DEP To Review Shell Petrochemical Plant Title V Air Quality Permit Under Environmental Justice Policy Enhanced Public Participation Process  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Revised Application, Instructions Available For Coal-Mine Methane Enclosed Flares Air Quality General Permit  [PaEN] 

-- PUC Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank Appointed Chair Of National Assn. Of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Committee On Natural Gas  [PaEN] 

-- EPA, DOE Award $850 Million To Support Oil & Gas Sector Methane Pollution Reduction, Including $10 Million Grant To Penn State  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Revised Application, Instructions Available For Coal-Mine Methane Enclosed Flares Air Quality General Permit  [PaEN] 

-- North American Electric Reliability Corp: AI Poses Threat To North American Electricity Grid  [PaEN] 

-- US DOE Releases LNG Gas Export Study: Facilities Already Approved Will Meet Global Demand For Decades; Unfettered Exports Would Increase Domestic Natural Gas Prices; Electricity Prices; Costs To Manufacturers  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- TribLive: Additional Hearing Required For Proposed Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In Plum Borough, Allegheny County That Doesn’t Meet Setbacks

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak, et al: Expanding Natural Gas Exports Will Increase Prices, Pollution, Report Says

-- Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition Calls For Immediate Lift Of LNG Export Facility Permit Review Ban  [EQT, PA Shale Gas Says We Have A ‘Duty’ To Sell More Gas To China Our Economic, Military Competitor]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Energy & Business Groups Respond To US DOE LNG Gas Export Study  [PDF of Article]

-- Reuters: Demand For US LNG Gas Exports Head For First Decline In 8 Years; Europe Bracing For New Price Shock As Weather Depletes Storage 

-- Bloomberg: Natural Gas Markets Brace For ‘Volatility’ With Expiration Of Gas Transit Deal Between Russia And Ukraine Jan. 1 

-- Bloomberg: Republican Administration Threatens Tariffs If EU Doesn’t Buy More US Oil, Natural Gas 

-- Bloomberg: Oil/Gas Sector Lobbies Republican Administration To Spare It From Tariffs, Regulation 

-- Post-Gazette: PA Lawmakers Talk Of Requiring Natural Gas Detectors In Buildings After Explosion That Killed 7 In Reading 

-- TribLive: Residents Of Mt. Peasant Personal Care Homes Start Returning Hours After Natural Gas Leak In Westmoreland 

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: Aqua PA Cites Existing Problems At Rhodes Utilities Water Companies  [PDF of Article]  [Water Companies Related To Venango County Conventional Well Spill Incident]   

-- The Guardian: DOE Warns ‘Unfettered’ Natural Gas Expansion Would Drive Up Domestic Costs

-- Utility Dive: US LNG Gas Exports Raise Electricity Bills, Gas Prices And Emissions, DOE Report Concludes 

-- Financial Times: LNG Gas Export Boost Would Increase Prices, Hurt Climate, US Study Says

-- Reuters: US DOE Releases LNG Gas Export Facility Study Urging Caution On New Permits

-- Bloomberg: Biden’s LNG Gas Export Study Presents ‘Speed Bump’ For New Republican Administration

-- S&P Global: Major New US Industry At A Crossroads - A US LNG Impact Study - Phase I 

-- Reuters: US Keeps LNG Gas Exports Crown Even With Facility Outages, Delays In Projects Under Construction, Slowing Demand

[Posted: December 21, 2024]  PA Environment Digest