If you’ve never paid close attention to your natural gas bill or it’s your first time as a natural gas customer and you aren’t really sure what the charges may mean, you’re not alone.
In states where natural gas is deregulated, it gives consumers the opportunity to shop around and select the best natural gas rates from retail marketers.
By choosing a natural gas marketer offering the lowest price in your market, you can save money on your heating bills. The key is comparing the rates on your current natural gas bill to the rates provided by other natural gas marketers. In order to do this, you’ll need to understand what the charges are on your bill.
Your natural gas bill is likely broken down into three categories:
Distribution. This is your portion of the costs to the natural gas marketer to distribute the natural gas to your home or apartment.
Gas cost recovery. This fee covers your actual gas costs, including transportation fees.
Taxes and other associated fees. You might be paying sales or franchise taxes mandated by your city or county. The marketer is passing along any of those fees on to you.
Natural gas often requires a meter reader to come to your home or apartment and read the meter. If your total monthly bill is estimated, then it means a company representative hadn’t been out that month to read your meter. As a cost savings measure, natural gas marketers may not read your meter every month, but maybe every other month. If your natural gas consumption fluctuates during this month, either becoming lower or higher than the last time your meter was read, then your bill will be adjusted to reflect that change.
Your natural gas bill often includes an easy-to-follow graph of your natural gas usage. This may help you better understand your peak times and make a conscious effort to lower your natural gas usage.
Every natural gas bill will include a reminder of when your bill is actually due. It is often posted prominently at the top of your bill. Most gas companies will charge you a late fee if you don’t pay your bill on time. If your previous bill was overdue, your current bill may include a previous balance. This will be added on to your current bill.
Natural gas companies may include monthly newsletters or other information that they feel is important for their customers to know. Like all utility companies, they want their customers to feel they are saving money as a customer, and will provide tips to customers on how they can make changes that will help lower their monthly gas bills.
Paying your bill online is often the most efficient way to get the task done each month, but most natural gas marketers allow you to walk in and pay your bills at their offices or mail back your payment.
Your natural gas bill will list an account number that identifies you. If you have any problems with your natural gas service or need to call the company’s customer service line, keep your account number in a handy spot to make it easier to contact the company, either by phone or online.
