Have you seen an increase in your natural gas bill? You may expect higher bills during colder months, but there are several reasons your bill could be higher than expected. Here are some of the most common reasons and tips on how you can manage your bill.
Weather
During cold weather, gas usage typically
increases three to seven times compared to summer weather
since we tend to use our home heater more frequently. You
could save up to 1% on heating costs by lowering your
thermostat to 68 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at
night, if health permits.
Days Within Billing Cycle
There are typically 29-32 days in a billing
cycle, depending on when meters are read for a particular
area. However, there are situations that may change the
number of billing days. For example, holidays can add up to
four days to your billing cycle.
Increase in Appliance Usage
Increased use of appliances during cold weather
can impact your bill. For example, water heaters work longer
and harder to heat the colder water coming in, which could
double with the arrival of guests at home. Also, cooking more
or leaving appliances on could impact your
bill.
Gas Price
Our rates are regulated by the
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). You can read
more about these costs and the approved rates on this fact sheet*
from the CPUC.
Past Due Amount
Any remaining past due amount included in your
current bill will cause it to be higher.
Compare Bills
For a personalized analysis of factors potentially causing your bill to increase (or change), visit the “Compare Bills” tool within the “Ways to Save” section of My Account.
Bill Tracker Alerts
If you have an Advanced Meter installed, you are also eligible to sign up for Bill Tracker Alerts, which help you monitor your gas costs throughout the billing period, take steps to lower usage and avoid surprises in your monthly bill.
Assistance Programs
You could save money and conserve energy with our assistance programs.