LOS ANGELES, Dec. 7, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) reminds its customers they may see higher gas bills this month due to the increased use of home furnaces in November and over the holidays.
"Because of the cold weather over the past month, many of our customers have been turning up their furnaces to stay warm and the result will be higher gas bills," said Michelle Mueller, vice president of customer services for The Gas Company.
Mueller said natural gas costs have risen nationwide due to market factors, including cold weather, tight supplies and increased demand. Based on current industry price projections, typical residential customers of The Gas Company could see their monthly bills increase to $90 to $100 this winter (based on 75 therms of usage), compared with $67 last year, Mueller said.
The Gas Company offers customers these helpful tips to help manage their winter gas bills:
-- Focus on the furnace, the use of which accounts for about half of
a typical customer's monthly gas bill;
-- Lower the furnace thermostat 3 degrees to 5 degrees (health
permitting). Turn it off when not at home. It costs about $1.00
an hour to run the furnace, which can add up over many hours,
days, weeks and months.
-- Check furnace filters every month during the heating season and
clean or replace the filter when necessary. When installing a new
or cleaned filter, be sure to re-install the front panel door of
the furnace properly so it fits snugly.
-- Never operate the furnace without the front-panel door properly
in place because doing so may create the risk of carbon monoxide
poisoning;
-- Don't block heating outlets or return registers with furniture or
other objects;
-- Repair cracks or broken seams in forced-air heating ducts;
-- Install or upgrade attic insulation;
-- Caulk and weatherstrip drafty windows and doors;
-- Open the drapes or blinds during the day and let the sun help
warm the home. Close drapes or blinds at night to keep the warmth
inside;
-- Consider adding another blanket or two at night to stay warm;
-- And, choose a higher efficiency model when shopping for a new gas
furnace.
Mueller encouraged customers who may have difficulty paying their gas bills to call The Gas Company to work out payment arrangements or to receive information on the Level Pay Plan. Customer-assistance programs, such as the Gas Assistance Fund, which provides assistance of up to $150 on eligible customers' winter natural gas bills, and the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program, which provides a 20-percent discounted rate to income-qualified customers, also are available.
Customers can visit The Gas Company's Web site, at www.socalgas.com, for more conservation information.
The Gas Company is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing safe and reliable energy to 19.2 million consumers through 5.4 million meters. The company's service territory encompasses 23,000 square miles in most of central and Southern California. The Gas Company strives to provide exceptional customer service to enhance the quality of life in the community. The Gas Company is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company. To learn more, go to www.socalgas.com.