La Mesa Residents Reel From Rising Natural Gas Prices

LA MESA, CA — San Diego Gas & Electric is offering their La Mesa and San Diego customers tips and tools to help them save on their energy bill, while cautioning that natural gas prices could rise even higher into January 2023.

This week, SDG&E has sent direct emails to customers to help them plan for rising costs across all utilities – energy, water and wastewater.

A dedicated webpage at sdge.com/MyEnergy has been established for all customers to help them with bill-saving and energy management resources, according to a recent news release from SDG&E Vice President of Customer Services Dana Golan.

For a full list of ideas on how to save energy at home, visit the SDG&E website.

“SDG&E remains committed to working with our customers as prices for a variety of goods and services, including natural gas, continue to surge across the nation,” Golan said. “It’s important that we help customers prepare as much as possible for colder weather and higher winter energy bills and that we provide access to financial assistance.”

A recent article published by National Gas Intelligence reported that a “perfect storm”of frigid temperatures across the west, low storage inventories, and other factors impacting supply and demand are driving wholesale natural gas prices to “historically high” levels.

SDG&E reports that they are selling natural gas with no profit margin – meaning that if SDG&E pays $1 for natural gas in the commodity market, that’s what SDG&E customers pay.

The price for natural gas is adjusted monthly on customers’ bills to reflect the latest market conditions.

Residential natural gas rates jumped by 19% in November and December due to the rising commodity price for natural gas, they said.

Current pricing forecasts indicate that natural gas prices may go even higher into January when the weather in our region is typically the coldest, and gas usage is generally the highest, potentially putting more upward pressure on customers’ bills.

Energy Savings Tips

• Block the chill: Caulk and weather-strip around drafty doors and windows. Use a door sweep, door sock or towel at the bottom of doors with a gap.
• Keep Your Furnace Clean: Check furnace filters once a month and replace them regularly. A dirty air filter can increase your energy costs and cause problems with your equipment.
• Wash Clothes with Cold Water: Using warm water instead of hot water can cut a load’s energy use in half; using cold water will save even more. Plus, cold water helps your clothes last longer.
• Lower Water Heater Thermostat: Lowering the thermostat on your water heater to 120°F, if possible. This will save energy and avoid scalding.  

SDG&E says they remain committed to helping customers who are struggling to pay their bill. For more information about assistance programs, ranging from bill discounts, bill payment plans and debt relief, can be found at sdge.com/assistance