LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern
California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) wants customers to know that they may
experience higher than expected natural gas bills in January due to
the unusually cold weather and increased use of home heaters to
stay warm.
There have been significantly more cold snap days this
December 2015 and January 2016 to date compared to the December and
January months in the last five years of warm winters in SoCalGas'
service territory. Weather reports are predicting a cold snap over
the next weeks beginning Jan. 31.
SoCalGas encourages customers to be especially aware of
energy usage.
Customers can monitor their natural gas usage and see whether
their bills have gone up or down and how they compare to
previous years by logging into "My Account" at socalgas.com.
View "ways to save" and select "compare bills." Tips to
reduce home heating costs include:
- Lower the thermostat by three to five degrees for up to 30%
energy savings
- Keep heating vents and furnace registers free of dirt lint and
obstructions
- Clean or replace furnace filters according to manufacturers'
recommendations
SoCalGas also offers resources to help customers manage natural
gas costs and assistance paying bills. Through the California
Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program, eligible households
receive a 20-percent rate discount on their monthly gas bill. Also,
the Gas Assistance Fund (GAF) may be able to provide customers with
a one-time grant for the amount of the gas bill, not exceeding
$100. SoCalGas' Medical Baseline
Allowance offers an additional allowance of natural gas at a lower
rate to qualified households where a member has a life-threatening
illness, is seriously disabled, or requires more heat in winter due
to a serious health condition.
Customers can learn more and apply for these and other programs
by visiting www.socalgas.com/for-your-home/assistance-programs/ or
by calling (800) 427-2200.
Eligible customers may also receive no-cost home weatherization
services through the Energy Savings Assistance Program. Apply
online at
www.socalgas.com/for-your-home/assistance-programs/esap/form/index.shtml
or call (800) 331-7593 English and Spanish.
All SoCalGas customers can find rebates on qualifying energy
efficient appliances or home upgrades by going to
www.socalgas.com/save-money-and-energy.
SoCalGas also recognizes that customers face various hardships
and encourages those who may be having difficulty paying their
natural gas bills to contact SoCalGas to ask about payment
arrangements or to find out if they qualify for other
bill-assistance programs. Customers can request payment
arrangements online or call SoCalGas at (800) 427-2200 and should
have their account number handy for faster service.
SoCalGas customer can enroll in the My Account program at
https://www.socalgas.com/pay-bill/my-account. Once enrolled, they
can easily access gas usage information, pay bills, schedule
service orders and access other online services.
About Southern California Gas Co.
Southern
California Gas Co. has been delivering clean, safe and reliable
natural gas to its customers for more than 140 years. It is the
nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing
service to 21.4 million consumers connected through 5.9 million
meters in more than 500 communities. The company's service
territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout
central and Southern California,
from Visalia to the Mexican
border. Southern California Gas Co. is a regulated subsidiary of
Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding
company based in San Diego.
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Company