(Submitted by Columbia Gas)
Steamy summer days and cold winter nights. Two temperature extremes that can make energy bills unpredictable and can have an impact on monthly budgets.
Natural gas costs have remained low over the past several years and that is reflected in the Budget Payment Plan. The plan amount for a customer using an average amount of gas is set at $65.73 per month for the 2016-2017 heating season. As a comparison, the 2008-09 winter heating season set a record high for the Budget Payment Plan of $133.
Columbia Gas of Ohio wants you take control of your natural gas bills by joining the Budget Payment Plan which offers many advantages:
· Easier budgeting – your bill remains the same each month.
· Convenience – the plan is free and you can spread the costs of winter heating bills throughout the year.
· Plan ahead – you get a head start on winter heating bills by paying the budget amount throughout the year.
· Accurate billing – Columbia Gas reviews customer accounts throughout the year so we can adjust your budget amount if needed.
Joining is simple: customers can pay the Budget Payment Plan amount on their August bill, enroll online or by phone.
Each customer’s budget billing amount is different, and it may be higher or lower than the average. The amount is based on the historical gas usage patterns for their home, the projected cost of natural gas on the wholesale market and current rates for service and delivery.
You should act now. Waiting beyond August will raise the payment amount because there would be fewer months in the budget year over which to spread the costs of winter heating.
Columbia reviews budget accounts in March to determine the impact of weather conditions and swings in the market price of natural gas. The company may adjust budget customers’ payment amounts, if necessary, to keep them on track with actual account balances.
To enroll in the Budget Payment Plan, customers can:
· Pay the promoted amount shown on their August bill, plus any non-utility charges for security deposits, optional services or fuel fund contributions, instead of the current amount due.
· Enroll online at ColumbiaGasOhio.com. Login to enroll at any time.
· Call 1-800-344-4077 – Select option 1 from the main menu and follow the appropriate prompts for information on the budget plan.
Columbia Gas of Ohio also offers programs to help customers conserve energy and save money on their natural gas bill. To learn more about our energy efficiency programs, visit ColumbiaGasOhio.com/ways-to-
