Why did my gas bill go up 100-200%?

Question

All,

I have a vacant rental that was costing me $20 or so a month for the gas alongside mortgage and other utilities. The last two months my bill has jumped to $200 and $250. This is a small, vacant rental that is only kept at 60 degrees or so. I'm planning on calling the utility company tomorrow.

Anyone had this experience? It says the price may fluctuate based on the gas market. But 100% + jump? Come on. I've never had this big of a spike in my 3 years of owning it or in my personal residence.

Any ideas?

Tony Valle · Answer

We are experiencing the same astronomical surge in rates here in California. Everyone on the West Coast will experience the same crushing, financial pain and it is not due to leaks or anything else that we can control. In our home, we have historically paid about $100 per billing cycle for gas around this time of year, and our bill is projected to be $500+ Can you imagine what kind of gas bills commercial businesses will be receiving and what that will do to prices??   I believe that any sentient being should understand the consequences of decisions that are being made at the top that are affecting prices for the energy that heats our homes, powers our vehicles, powers the coal fired plants, and keeps our economy going.

Lovely letter from our Gas Provider

Dec 29, 2022

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There’s no easy way to put this: January bills are likely to be shockingly high. 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 – to the tune of 128% since December.

As a result, our customers can expect to see higher gas bills in the coming weeks.

While we don’t set these prices (they’re set by regional and national markets), nor does SoCalGas actually profit from rising prices, we want our customers to know that we understand that this may be a shock and a hardship for some.

“We understand that our customers are starting to feel the pain caused by large changes in the natural gas market,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Gillian Wright. “And we also recognize that we owe it to our customers to provide them with as many tools and tips as possible to help them find ways to prepare for colder weather and higher winter bills, including financial assistance in some cases.”

blah, blah, blah....

In other words: "The Beatings will continue until morale improves."

I wish I had a solution to your problem but we are all in it right now with no solutions on the horizon (especially for those of us on the West Coast).

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Ingrid Dobbins · Answer

I have been paying an average of 14.00 a month for gas. Now I got a bill for 216.00 a month. I am fighting this government robbery. There's no way in hell that the PUC WILL GET AWAY WITH THIS. PERIOD.

Tim Bee · Answer

Supply and demand.  Your commander in chief cut off the keystone pipeline causing a spike in oil leading to increased gas prices, which led to increased costs of transportation for goods.  This caused prices to sky rocket leading to inflation higher than in the 1970s.  This coupled with a Afganistan debacle led by a demented man with cognitive decline led a communist nation to be brave enough to invade Ukraine causing European supply chains to be disrupted.  In an effort to bail out Europe from freezing due to the fact they didn't want to pay said communist regime for higher energy costs the demented man stepped in and is now selling Nat gas to much of Europe limiting the supply for customers at home.

Victor S. · Answer

create an online account at the utility and see what the usage is vs trying to call them. everyone is shooting in the dark here w/o additional info.

Scott Mac · Answer

Who gets all of that profit I wonder?

Is it somebody a person, or a family, or some mega corp in China, Texas oilmen like JR Ewing?

That's a huge huge uptick in cash flow.

With no corresponding uptick in manufacturing costs.

Like of Popsicles sales immediately went 1000% more sales units per day, the Popsicle company would reap the profits.

I wonder where these HUGE profits go?

Greg M. · Answer

$20 to $200 is not a 100% jump. It is a 1000% jump.

That jump wouldn't be out of line for a lived-in home. My bill went from October $25, November $145, and December $250.

I'd make sure the hot water heater is off. I had a vacant home that was $125+ a month just for the hot water heater. Make sure the thermostat is actually set to 60* and not left higher than that by an agent. Also make sure it's not a programmable one that automatically changes heat levels based on time of day.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Natural gas prices are crazy. I have an apartment complex that used 30% less gas in November, but the bill was almost 50% higher.

Theresa Harris · Answer

The bill at my house doubled.  Check the price you are being charged per unit.  I'm betting they increased the price.  Same as if gas for your car went from $1/L to $10/L.

Joseph Crunkilton · Answer

Okay, so the posting from Spire (provider) said that bills are on track to go up about $8 per month. This is a crazy increase in my bill. Hopefully they can provide some sort of explanation tomorrow.

So frustrating.

Why did my gas bill go up 100-200%?

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