Natural Gas Price Notice
Stay Informed and Be Prepared This Winter
The Natural Gas Price Notice is an optional text message to help our customers in planning and preparing during the upcoming winter season.
Customers who sign up for the Natural Gas Price Notice will receive a text message from SoCalGas when there is a 20% or more increase* in the monthly natural gas commodity cost, which impacts a portion of their bills. While this new text message is not specific to individual customer usage, it aims to bring greater awareness to natural gas prices this winter season.
Natural gas prices fluctuate based on regional and national markets. We purchase natural gas in those markets on behalf of our residential and small business customers, and the cost of buying that natural gas is billed to customers with no markup, meaning we do not earn additional profits from the sale of natural gas or higher supply prices. The commodity cost of natural gas is just one factor that makes up the total charges on a customer's bill. Natural Gas Transportation Rates and Public Purpose Surcharges also make up charges that customers can expect to see on their bills.
Benefits
1. Stay Informed
Receiving the Natural Gas Price Notice could help you make informed decisions and proactively manage your energy use.
2. Save Energy
Conserving natural gas usage during winter may help you save on your monthly bills.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Please complete the sign-up form on this page.
A Natural Gas Price Notice text message will ONLY be sent at the beginning of a month during the November 2024 through March 2025 winter season IF there is an increase of 20% or more in the monthly natural gas commodity cost (also referred to as the "core procurement gas price") per therm on customer's bills as compared to the average of the previous three winters from November to March. In this situation, customers enrolled to receive the Natural Gas Price Notice will receive up to one text message per month per opt-in phone number at the beginning of the month, if applicable. Customers would receive the Natural Gas Price Notice text message at the beginning of the calendar month, regardless of when their natural gas bill arrives. For most customers, the monthly commodity price affects two monthly bills.
No predetermined number of text messages is expected. Customers enrolled may receive one text message per month from November 2024 through March 2025, up to five messages.
Currently, the Natural Gas Price Notice is exclusively available via text message.
Your Natural Gas Price Notice enrollment confirmation text message provides instructions for managing notifications. You can opt out at any time or choose to resume receiving notifications in the future.
No, opting in/out to receive the Natural Gas Price Notice will not affect your ability to receive other SoCalGas text messages. Should you opt out, you will only be opted out of this text message and will continue to receive emergency and utility service-related text communications as a SoCalGas customer.
We are here to help our customers understand their bill while preparing for colder weather. SoCalGas rates are regulated and approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). SoCalGas bills consist of three cost components:
- Natural Gas Commodity Charge: The cost of natural gas purchased by SoCalGas on behalf of its customers.
- Natural Gas Transportation Rates: The cost to deliver natural gas to a customer's home or business.
- Public Purpose Surcharge: A CPUC mandated charge to fund public purpose programs such as California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE), the Energy Savings Assistance Program, energy efficiency, and research.
Taxes and fees vary depending on the customer's location and applicable regulations. Learn more about how these charges are reflected on a customer's bill.
Other than the commodity cost of natural gas, factors that could impact your monthly SoCalGas bill include the price of natural gas, seasonal variations, an increase in your natural gas appliance usage, weather conditions, and any remaining unpaid balance from prior bills.
Bill Tracker Alerts are available year-round and allow customers to monitor their specific natural gas consumption by providing their own projected bill amount based on their actual current usage. Customers with an activated Advanced Meter can sign up for weekly Bill Tracker Alerts through My Account, at no charge.
The Level Pay Plan is designed to help with fluctuations in your monthly bill by projecting your annual usage and costs and distributing payment for those costs evenly over a 12-month period. Customers enrolled in this plan make consistent monthly payments based on an average bill amount rather than specific charges for each month.
Your Level Pay Plan amount was determined based on our forecasts of natural gas commodity prices at the time of your enrollment or at the time of your six-month plan review. An increased price of natural gas this winter season from November 2024 through March 2025 will not affect your current amount unless it is a review month, but it may cause an increase in the variance between the actual bill amount and the Level Pay Plan amount. The accumulated variance at the end of your plan cycle will be spread out across your future Level Pay Plan amount and may cause that plan amount to be higher.
Please note that the Level Pay Plan is not a discount program, and no savings or lower rates are involved. Learn more.
The Natural Gas Price Notice is not exclusive to SoCalGas customers. Anyone can enroll to receive this text message using the sign-up form on this page.
We Are Here to Help
Bill Tracker Alerts
Sign up for text and email alerts to monitor your natural gas consumption, take steps to reduce your usage, review your projected bill amount, and more.
Assistance Programs
You may qualify for Assistance Programs that could help with your bill, home energy use, and medically related heating needs.
Ways to Save Tool
Complete your Energy Profile and get a household energy analysis and customized energy-efficiency recommendations.
+No predetermined number of text messages is expected. Customers enrolled may receive one text message per month from November 2024 through March 2025, up to five text messages.
*The 20% or more increase is calculated based on the average of the last three winter seasons' monthly natural gas commodity prices (also referred to as the "core procurement gas price") from November to March.