Natural gas customers are going to see bigger bills starting Nov. 1. Here’s why
Washington residents will bear the brunt of high gas prices with higher utility bills starting Nov. 1, according to the state Utilities and Transportation Commission.
There are a few reasons gas prices are so high right now, the main one being the COVID-19 pandemic, which has slowed the production of natural gas while demand has increased, resulting in increased wholesale costs for Washington utilities.
Puget Sound Energy customers using a typical 64 therms a month will see an increase of 5.83% or $4.15 for an average monthly bill of $75.34, according to the release.
PSE services more than 870,000 customers in Thurston, Lewis, Pierce, King, Kittitas and Snohomish counties.
Natural gas companies have to submit filings at least every 15 months to adjust the rates of utilities based on the ever-fluctuating cost of natural gas on the wholesale market. This change is then reflected on utility bills, passing the cost onto the customer.
Price differences vary from utility company to company, and the commission encourages customers with concerns about the ability to pay their bills to reach out to their gas company for more information and assistance.
This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 9:14 AM with the headline "Natural gas customers are going to see bigger bills starting Nov. 1. Here’s why."
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