Natural gas prices to rise Nov. 1
Natural gas prices have spiked in the past six months and are up more than 30 percent since the end of August. This is largely due to increased U.S. demand and the ongoing energy crisis in Europe.
According to the Energy Information Administration, about 43 percent of Delaware households rely on natural gas for home heating.
“Due to the increase in wholesale natural gas prices, end-use customers will see an increase during the winter months,” said Andrew Slater, Delaware public advocate. “However, there are ways to reduce your usage and keep utility bills reasonable. Energy utility bills are some of the only bills where amount owed is dependent on usage.”
Chesapeake Utilities recently filed changes to its gas sales rate, a passthrough cost to customers, to reflect the higher natural gas prices. According to its filing in PSC Docket No. 21-0677, an average Residential Service 2 customer using 700 CCF per year will experience an annual increase of approximately 6.03 percent or $62.30.
Delmarva Power’s application to change its gas cost rate, PSC Docket No. 21-0672, also reflected an increase in costs for residential customers. According to its filing, a typical residential customer using 83 CCF in a winter month would see an increase of $5.64 or 6.1 percent.
Both rates will become effective Monday, Nov. 1, subject to refund, while the rates are reviewed by both the Division of the Public Advocate and Public Service Commission staff.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating accounts for the biggest portion of consumers’ utility bills. Savings tips include turning the thermostat down a few degrees, replacing dirty furnace filters, weather-stripping doors and windows, opening shades on sunny days, and closing vents and doors of unoccupied areas.
Delawareans can contact Energize Delaware about its Home Performance with Energy Star, Home Energy Counseling and Check-Up programs. These programs are designed to find areas that may need weatherizing and could potentially produce savings.
For additional tips on lowering your gas bill, go to chpkgas.com and delmarva.com.
Low-income Delawareans who are in need of financial assistance to meet their home energy costs may be eligible for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, administered jointly by the Delaware Division of State Service Centers and Catholic Charities Inc. Through Thursday, March 31, eligible households can apply to receive grants to help pay for fuel assistance for home heating, which includes electricity, natural gas, kerosene, propane, coal or wood. Grants are made to both homeowners and renters.
There also is crisis assistance funding available to help households in crisis during the winter months. Income eligibility for LIHEAP is defined as 200 percent of the federal poverty level. For more information on LIHEAP or to apply, go to ccwilm.org/basic-needs/energy-assistance/.
