Natural gas bills may hit $100

PG&E PREDICTS 23% RISE IN HEATING COSTS THIS MONTH

CALIFORNIA – PG&E predicts the average home heating bill will top $100 this month, making it the priciest February for natural gas since the energy crisis five years ago.

Natural gas costs are expected to jump 23 percent this month compared with last year, Pacific Gas & Electric said Wednesday. Despite the pain, it’s a far cry from the jumps of 71 and 50 percent the company projected for October and November.

Natural gas costs have been spiking nationwide. The devastating Gulf Coast hurricanes last fall hurt production, and utilities have paid top dollar to satisfy growing demand amid a limited domestic supply.

Residents have adjusted to the high cost of hot water and warm homes. They cut back their natural gas use by an average of 12.5 percent this winter, according to weather-adjusted utility estimates.

San Jose Mercury News