The company encourages customers to take advantage of saving tips and programs to help reduce their bills
Los AngelesAnd January 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Southern California Gas Corporation (SoCalGas) today announced A $1 million Contribute to Gas help fundA program that helps income-eligible customers pay their natural gas bills. Customers will face bills that may be double or higher compared to last year’s winter bills.
The higher bills are a result of historically higher natural gas prices in the western United States. SoCalGas does not set the price of natural gas. Instead, natural gas prices are determined by national and regional markets. SoCalGas buys natural gas in those markets on behalf of home and small business customers, and the cost of purchasing that gas is paid to those customers who do not have a profit margin, which means that SoCalGas does not profit from higher gas commodity prices.
According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), a number of factors contribute to higher prices for natural gas commodities.
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Lower-than-normal temperatures are prevalent across much of the West Coast, incl Washington And Oregon;
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high demand for natural gas for heating by customers in regions with lower than normal temperatures;
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Low natural gas supplies to the West Coast from Canada and the Rocky Mountains.
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Reduced capacity of interstate pipelines to the West Coast due to pipeline maintenance activities in West Texas; And
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Low levels of natural gas storage in the West Coast.
A detailed report on these market conditions can be found here: https://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/weekly/.
The Gas Assistance Fund is a joint effort between SoCalGas and the United Way of Greater Los Angelesand work with nonprofit organizations throughout our service area, to help income-eligible customers pay their natural gas bill with a one-time grant of up to $100 dollars per family. Full instructions for qualification can be found at https://www.socalgas.com/gaf.
“We know these higher prices are having a real impact on our customers,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer. Gillian Wright. “But we want them to know that there is help. We have valuable information on how to conserve energy, programs to help manage your energy use and an unprecedented contribution to the Gas Assistance Fund, which will help our most vulnerable customers pay their bills.”
To help customers manage energy use and possibly save on bills, SoCalGas recommends the following tips:
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Lowering the thermostat by three to five degrees—if health permits—can save up to 10 percent on heating costs.
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Proper sealing and weather stripping installation can save approximately 10 to 15 percent on your heating and cooling bills.
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Wash clothes in cold water to save up to 10 percent on heating water costs.
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Consider lowering the temperature of your water heater.
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Limit the use of non-essential natural gas appliances such as spas and fireplaces.
SoCalGas’ free Savings Methods tool may also help customers find ways to save on their natural gas bills, with a personalized savings plan that offers home energy analysis, personalized energy efficiency recommendations, and bill comparisons and energy use comparisons. Saving methods can be found at www.socalgas.com/waystosave.
Customers can also subscribe to the week Invoice tracker alerts To monitor gas consumption, take steps to reduce usage, and avoid bill surprises. Alerts are sent via email or text and include an updated bill and the next expected bill amount to help manage your energy bills as easily as possible. Eligible customers may also sign up for a Level payment plan (LPP), which determines their average annual natural gas use and costs over a 12-month period.
SoCalGas also encourages individuals with difficulties to explore several bill payment processes or assistance programs options offered or to call 1-800-427-2200. Customers may qualify for one of several assistance programs including:
For more information on tips, programs, and ways to save, visit https://newsroom.socalgas.com/stories/a-note-to-our-customers-high-bills-may-come-as-a-shock-in-january-but-we-have-some-tips- And.
About SoCalGas
Based in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® Do you The largest gas distribution facility in the United States of America. SoCalGas provides affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service to 21.8 million consumers worldwide. 24,000 square miles Central and Southern California. Gas delivered through the company’s pipelines will continue to play a key role in California’s clean energy transition – providing electrical grid reliability and supporting the deployment of wind and solar power.
SoCalGas’ mission is to build America’s cleanest, safest, and most innovative energy company. In support of this mission, SoCalGas aspires to be fulfilled net greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and deliver power by 2045 and replace 20 percent of conventional natural gas supplies to primary customers with renewable natural gas by 2030. Renewable natural gas is produced from waste from landfills and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in gas delivery infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for customers. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Simbra (NYSE: SRE), an energy infrastructure company headquartered in San Diego.
For more information visit socialgas.com/newsroom Or contact SoCalGas at Twitter (SoCalGas), Instagram (SoCalGas) and Facebook.
This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions regarding the future, and involve risks and uncertainties, and are not guarantees. Future results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements represent only our estimates and assumptions as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other factors.
In this press release, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “contemplate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” “should.” “,” can “,” will “,” will “,” confident “,” may “,” can “,” potential “,” possible “,” proposed “,” under implementation “,” building “,” development “,” “opportunity,” “initiative,” “goal,” “foresee,” “optimistic,” “maintenance,” “follow-up,” “progress,” “progression,” “goal,” “goal,” “commitment,” or similar expressions, or when we discuss our guidelines, priorities, strategy, goals, vision, mission, mission, opportunities, expectations, intentions or expectations.
Factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include risks and uncertainties related to: decisions, investigations, regulations, and the issuance or revocation of authorizations or other authorizations and renewal of permits. privileges and other actions of (i) the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the U.S. Department of Energy, and other governmental and regulatory agencies and (ii) the United States, states, counties, cities, and other jurisdictions in which we do business; The success of business development efforts and construction projects, including risks in (i) completing construction projects or other transactions on schedule and on budget, (ii) realizing the expected benefits of any such effort if completed, and (iii) obtaining approval or approval from partners or other third parties, including government and regulatory agencies; civil and criminal litigation, regulatory inquiries, investigations, arbitration and other proceedings, including those relating to a natural gas leak at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility; changes in laws and regulations; Cybersecurity threats, including by state-sponsored actors or through ransomware or other attacks on our systems or those of third parties with whom we do business, including the power grid or other energy infrastructure, all of which are becoming more visible due to Recent geopolitical events, such as the war in Ukraine; failure of our counterparties to honor their contracts and obligations; our ability to borrow money on favorable terms or otherwise and to meet our debt service obligations, including due to (i) actions taken by credit rating agencies to lower our credit ratings or place those ratings on a negative outlook and (ii) higher interest rates and inflation; the impact on clients’ cost of capital and affordability due to fluctuations in inflation, interest rates and commodity prices and our ability to effectively hedge these risks; The impact of energy and climate policies, laws, rules, and disclosures, as well as the related objectives and actions of companies in our industry, including actions to reduce or eliminate dependence on natural gas, and any deterioration or increased uncertainty in the political or regulatory environment for California natural gas distribution companies and the risk of not recovering stranded assets; The pace of development and adoption of new technologies in the energy sector, including those designed to support government and private energy and climate goals, and our ability to efficiently integrate them into our business; weather, natural disasters, epidemics, accidents, equipment failures, explosions, acts of terrorism, information systems outages or other events that disrupt our operations, damage our facilities or systems, cause the release of harmful substances, cause fires, or expose us to liability for damages fines and penalties, some of which may not be recoverable through regulatory mechanisms, may be disputed or not covered by insurers, or may affect our ability to obtain satisfactory levels of affordable insurance; Availability of natural gas and natural gas storage capacity, including disruptions caused by restrictions on the withdrawal of natural gas from storage facilities; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on capital projects, regulatory approvals, and the execution of our operations; Changes in tax and trade policies, laws, and regulations, including tariffs, revisions to international trade agreements, and penalties, such as those that have been imposed and may be imposed in the future in connection with the war in Ukrainewhich could increase our costs, reduce our competitiveness, affect our ability to do business with certain counterparties, or impair our ability to resolve business disputes; and other uncertainties, some of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control.
These risks and uncertainties are discussed in the reports the company has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports are available through the EDGAR system for free on the SEC website, http://www.sec.govand on the Sempra website, http://www.sempra.com. Investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.
Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Texas, Sempra Mexico, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (Oncor) and Infraestructura Energética Nova, SAPI de CV (IEnova) are not the same companies as California Utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric Company or Southern California Gas Company, Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Texas, Sempra Mexico, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor and IEnova are not regulated by the CPUC.
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Company