Columbia Gas of Ohio : Cold Temperatures Mean Higher Natural Gas Bills

Manage Your Home Energy Costs When Temperatures Drop

Our customers continue to see, on average, temperatures 24% colder than normal for this time of the year. This prolonged drop in temperatures is increasing natural gas consumption and will result in higher than normal bills.

Natural gas prices for January 2018 are about 28% lower compared to prices for January 2017. While natural gas prices are down, average temperatures are much colder. Customers not on Budget Plan can expect to see, on average, an increase of about $20 in their January bill. However, every customer is different, and those customers who use more gas could see a larger increase in their bill.

Customers on Budget Plan will not see a change to their winter bills. Budget payment amounts will be reviewed after the winter heating season.

As Ohioans continue to experience this latest blast of frigid temperatures, we want to remind you that energy efficiency and assistance programs are available to manage winter costs.

Energy Assistance
Customers struggling to pay their home heating costs should contact us at 1-800-344-4077 for information on payment assistance programs. We are here to help with programs to fit our customers' needs:

• Payment Plans - Plans to help make home energy costs more manageable.
• Winter Reconnect Order - A program to have service restored or maintained with a payment of $175 plus a small reconnection fee.
• Low-income energy assistance programs available through local community action agencies or Salvation Army chapters.
• Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus) - Option for households at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guideline.

Energy Efficiency

Saving matters, and we offer a number of energy efficiency programs. You can also take the following steps now to ensure comfort during the cold snap:

• Set your thermostat to 68 degrees. When you're not home, drop it to 55 degrees. Or install a programmable thermostat to automatically lower your home's temperature at night and when you are away.
• Turn your water heater temperature down to 120 degrees.
• Install blanket insulation on older water heaters.
• Seal air leaks where you feel cold drafts.
• Replace older appliances or leaky windows with new models that carry the ENERGY STAR® label.