WINTER GAS BILLS WILL TAKE BIG HIKE - Get Ready Now

(06/24/2003)
If you pay to heat with natural gas, you should brace yourself before the start of winter.

Public Service Commission's Consumer Advocate Billy Jack Gregg says to start thinking about winter gas bills now.

Compared with the same time last year, Gregg says the wholesale price of natural gas has increased more than 65 percent.

Gregg says gas companies are now buying gas to be stored underground until the winter.

Last year, gas prices were in the range of $3.00 to $3.50 per million but this year those same prices are between $5.50 and $6.00. Bills could increase of as much as 25-percent.

The PSC Consumer Advocate suggests three ways to do this:

1) Get on your gas companies budget paying plan.

2) Add insulation this summer along with new weather stripping to help cut down on the amount of gas you'll need this winter.

3) Start saving now for the winter heating bills.