Washington Gas Expects Winter Heating Bills to Decrease; Encourages Customers to Prepare for Heating Season
October 22 2015 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Washington Gas announced today that its customers could expect
their upcoming winter heating bills to be 13-20 percent lower than
those from last year’s winter heating season when temperatures were
significantly colder than normal. Prices may vary if
colder-than-expected temperatures result in an increased demand for
natural gas.
“We have a long-standing commitment to deliver safe, reliable
and affordable natural gas service to our customers,” said Adrian
Chapman, president and chief operating officer of Washington Gas.
“By taking steps to effectively manage assets throughout the year,
we have an ample natural gas supply on-hand and are well prepared
to meet the energy needs of our customers this winter.”
Gas supply costs are calculated using the amount of natural gas
consumed stated in “therms” on customer bills and the cost of
delivering the gas. The cost of gas consumed, which made up
approximately 52 percent of the average customer’s annual heating
bill last year, appears on the customer’s bill as the Purchased Gas
Charge (PGC). The cost of delivering the gas appears as the
distribution charge. As a regulated utility, Washington Gas charges
customers the same price that the company pays for the gas supply.
The rest of a customer’s bill, the system charge, is a fixed
monthly amount that covers certain costs of providing natural gas
service, such as maintenance and repair of customer lines. Taxes or
other fees levied by state and local governments are also included
as separate line items on the bill.
As colder weather approaches, Washington Gas continues to
encourage customers to prepare their homes for the winter heating
season. Take simple steps now to help manage energy costs better
and stay safe, warm and energy-smart when temperatures start to
drop.
- Change or clean furnace/air filters
once a month and schedule an annual furnace or boiler check-up with
a licensed professional.
- Caulk and weather strip around doors
and windows.
- Install rubber gaskets behind outlet
and switch plates.
- Check dampers in unused fireplaces and
close them if they are open.
- Turn the water heater down to warm or
low settings, never more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wash full loads of laundry in cold
water, using specially formulated cold-water detergents.
- Consider installing new,
high-efficiency appliances and look for the ENERGY STAR label for
efficiency ratings.
- Consider purchasing a programmable
thermostat, which automatically lowers the temperature setting at
night and increases the setting during the day.
Important winter safety tip: Carbon monoxide (CO) is a
colorless, odorless, toxic gas, created when fossil fuels are not
burned completely. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
recommends putting CO detectors outside the bedrooms in each
separate sleeping area of your home. It also recommends installing
smoke alarms on each level of your house and inside every bedroom.
For both types of devices, check batteries monthly and replace them
at least twice a year.
Washington Gas offers several payment plans and services to help
you manage your time and energy costs. For those customers having
difficulty paying their natural gas bills, contact Washington Gas
as soon as possible to learn about alternative payment plans that
may be available. Plans include:
- The Washington Gas Budget Plan:
This plan allows eligible customers to spread the cost of winter
heating over the entire year. It helps to minimize the impact of
typically higher seasonal bills and provides greater flexibility in
managing a household budget. The Budget Plan is designed as
a 12-month program, and we encourage customers to stay on it
year-round to realize the potential benefits.
- Customer Choice: This is an
option for customers to buy their natural gas from a licensed
energy supply company other than Washington Gas. Regardless of
which company sells you natural gas, Washington Gas will continue
to deliver the gas safely and reliably to your home through its
distribution system, address your customer needs and respond around
the clock to natural gas emergencies. For more information, visit
washingtongas.com and click on Customer Information then
Customer Choice.
- The Washington Area Fuel Fund
(WAFF): Founded by Washington Gas and administered by The
Salvation Army, WAFF helps families who do not qualify for, or who
have exhausted, government energy assistance. WAFF provides funds
for all types of fuel to heat families’ homes during the
winter heating season. Washington Gas pays the administrative fees
of the fund so 100 percent of WAFF donations go directly to those
who need assistance. For more information or to apply for
assistance, contact The Salvation Army at 888-318-WAFF
(9233) or visit washingtonareafuelfund.org.
For additional information about energy assistance, the budget
plan, energy efficiency, safety and more, visit to
www.washingtongas.com.
About Washington Gas
Washington Gas Light Company is a regulated natural gas utility
providing safe, reliable natural gas service to more than 1.1
million customers in the District of Columbia, Maryland and
Virginia. A subsidiary of WGL Holdings, Inc., the company has been
providing energy to residential, commercial and industrial
customers for more than 166 years.
About WGL
WGL (NYSE: WGL), headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a leading
source for clean, efficient and diverse energy solutions. With
activities and assets across the U.S., WGL consists of Washington
Gas, WGL Energy, WGL Midstream and Hampshire Gas. WGL provides
options for natural gas, electricity, green power and energy
services, including generation, storage, transportation,
distribution, supply and efficiency. Our calling as a company is to
make energy surprisingly easy for our employees, our community and
all our customers. Whether you are a homeowner or renter, small
business or multinational corporation, state and local or federal
agency, WGL is here to provide Energy Answers. Ask Us. For more
information, visit us at www.wgl.com.
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Washington GasNews Media:Jim Monroe,
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