Southern California is welcoming cooler temperatures, accompanied by the prospect of lower gas bills this winter — a stark contrast to last year’s high costs.
Last winter, a prolonged cold spell led to a spike in natural gas prices, resulting in costly gas bills for many.
However, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts a decrease in gas bills this year, attributing this anticipated relief for Southern Californians primarily to lower natural gas prices.
The West region, including California, is projected to see the steepest drop in the country, with average winter natural gas costs expected to decrease from $843 last year to $590 this year.
“Our forecast of regional winter natural gas expenditures declines by 30% in the West, more than in any other U.S. region, because we forecast less winter natural gas consumption in that region and lower natural gas prices,” said the EIA.
Despite global challenges, including the ongoing war in Ukraine affecting Russia’s fossil fuel supply and widespread supply-chain issues, the California Public Utilities Commission has issued a positive reliability outlook. This indicates that the SoCalGas pipeline network is well-equipped to meet the demands of the upcoming winter.
To help residents manage their heating costs, SoCalGas is offering a text alert. About 35,000 people have already enrolled in the service.
“Customers who sign up will receive a text message from SoCalGas when there is a 20 percent or more increase in the monthly natural gas commodity cost – which impacts a portion of their bills,” said SoCalGas.
“We continue to encourage customers to take advantage of the tools and options provided by SoCalGas to manage energy consumption and make energy-efficient home improvements to help lower bills.”
BY HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]
