Did you scream in horror when you received your gas bill last month? Most SCSH residents received a gas bill that was two or three times higher than average! SoCalGas responded to the outcry stating that this winter, bills are expected to be higher due to the increasing cost of natural gas combined with higher usage. The cost of natural gas has increased significantly nationwide, but SoCalGas can help us manage charges with their assistance programs, rebates, and energy-saving tips and tools. Below are ways to reduce home gas costs so you won’t gasp opening future bills.
SoCalGas Tools and Tips to Reduce Costs:
- Review your current and historical gas bills to help plan your usage.
- My Energy Dashboard: Find all your available energy efficiency resources in one place on your website account.
- Analyze Usage: View your natural gas usage by month, day, and hour.
- Compare your bill with previous months.
- My Savings Plan: View and manage all your energy tips, programs, and rebates to keep track of your energy efficiency and savings progress.
- Go to My Plan On Tips, Programs & Rebates: Browse the savings tips, programs, and rebates available to you.
- Answer a few questions on your website account to get personalized tips to help you be more energy-efficient and lower your natural gas bill.
- The California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program offers a 20 percent discount to eligible customers for monthly gas bills.
- Utilize assistance programs such as Ways to Save tools and Level Pay Plan.
- For more information, go to: socalgas.com/ManageHigherBills
Personalized Savings Tips for Your Home:
- Install a programmable or smart thermostat and lower the heat settings.
- Save approximately 1%-2% for each 1° in lower temperature and about 5%-10% for 5° temperature reduction.
- Caulk and weatherize: You can reduce heating and cooling bills by up to 10-15% with caulking and weather-stripping.
- Inspect your home for gaps since drafts are a sign of significant air leakage that you can easily seal.
- Properly maintaining your heating system can lower energy costs and extend the equipment’s life. Depending upon your system’s current condition, you can cut your heating bills by approximately 5%-25%.
- A technician should clean and tune gas-fired heating systems annually before the heating season.
- Check the air filter every month and replace it when necessary.
- Keep air vents open, clean, and unobstructed (by furniture, carpet, drapes, etc.).
- Heat pumps pull heat out of the air to heat your home. Consider an upgrade if your heat pump is more than ten years old.
- Check gas-run appliances such as stoves and clothes dryers to ensure they use current energy-saving technology.
Great News!
The California Public Utilities Commission just issued a notice that this month your natural gas bill will include a credit of $50.77 identified as the “California Climate Credit.”
The California Climate Credit is part of California’s efforts to fight climate change. This credit is from a state program that requires power plants, natural gas providers, and other large industries that emit greenhouse gases to buy carbon pollution permits. The credit on your bill is your share of the payments from the State’s program.
For more information about the Climate Credit, visit www.cpuc.ca.gov/climatecredit