Natural Gas Rate Increase to Impact Southern Arizona in February
Why is my natural gas bill higher?
FIRST AND FOREMOST – THE COST OF NATURAL GAS
The City of Benson purchases natural gas on behalf of customers from the commercial market and passes it through to customers. This means that the cost per unit can fluctuate each month. Due to an increased demand for natural gas in the Western Region, along with uncertainty in the natural gas supply, we have seen significant increases in our regional market price. The current natural gas price per unit is now $3.98. This cost has increased dramatically from $1.39 per unit from November.
Here’s a chart showing it a little more clearly:
|
Usage Month |
Meter Read Date |
Bill Mailing Date |
Due Date |
Unit Price |
|
November 2022 |
December 5, 2022 |
December 9, 2022 |
December 27, 2022 |
$1.39 |
|
December 2022 |
January 3, 2023 |
January 6, 2023 |
January 23, 2023 |
$1.68 |
|
January 2023 |
January 30, 2023 |
February 3, 2023 |
February 21, 2023 |
$2.14 |
|
February 2023 (Jan 31 – Mar 5) |
March 6, 2023 |
March 10, 2023 |
March 27, 2023 |
$3.98 |
NOTE: THE MARKET APPEARS TO BE RETURNING TO TRADITIONAL CONDITIONS WITH A DROP TO THE WEST COAST NATURAL GAS PRICES. WE ANTICIPATE A REDUCTION IN THE UPCOMING BILLING CYCLE, BUT WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION BY MARCH 20, 2023.
COOLER WEATHER
During winter months, cooler weather means customers are using more natural gas to heat homes and water. During this time, you could save on heating costs by lowering your thermostat between 65°F and 68°F during the day, health permitting, and cooler at night.
INCREASE IN APPLIANCE USAGE
Your natural gas appliances work harder during colder weather. This can cause your bill to be higher. For example, water heaters work longer and harder to keep your water hot, which could increase natural gas usage. Similarly, your furnace runs longer to keep your house warm when temperatures outside drop. Also, if you are using your fireplace more for additional heating, are cooking more, or have guests at home, your bill could be impacted.
PAST DUE AMOUNTS
Any past due amount on your current bill will cause it to be higher than normal.
THE CITY OF BENSON DOES NOT PROFIT FROM THE COST OF NATURAL GAS
The City of Benson purchases natural gas on behalf of customers from the commercial market and passes the cost straight through to customers with the fee for the cost of operation of the system which is fixed fee set annually. The market price of the gas is strictly a pass-through to our customers.
SO YOU PAY WHAT WE PAY.
Need Assistance?
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
We’re here to lend a helping hand. If your household is experiencing financial difficulty, there may be federal, state or local programs that can provide assistance with your utility bill.
Please dial 2-1-1 and select option 1 then option 9 to speak to a specialist to assist you with funds available in your area.
For more information about your utility account or billing questions, please call the Finance Department at 520-586-2245 option 1.
OTHER UTILITIES
The increased price of natural gas also affects costs of production of electricity since most generation is natural gas fired. Consumers are also encouraged to conserve electricity during this market spike. https://ssvec.org/