Get the lowest Residential gas rate
Beginning in January of 2008, the Preferred Residential Rate, our lowest, was changed to provide a larger discount (10%) from the General Residential Rate. The Preferred Residential Rate is first and foremost to reward customers who use natural gas on a year-round basis. There are two qualifications for a residential customer to be on the preferred rate and get the discount on all natural gas consumed all year. First, the customer must have natural gas appliances that have consumption year-round such as a gas light, clothes dryer, stove, water heater or grill. Second, the consumption should be a minimum of 9 therms per billing period. If the consumption goes below that threshold, then the customer is not meeting the qualifications for the year-round savings and will be billed for the minimum amount that month.

Why change the way the rate is calculated?
After analyzing our costs and rate structure, the data showed that the residential rate structure was inconsistent with the consumption patterns of our residential customers primarily because the rates were based on the type of use and not how much gas was being consumed. Under the old rate structure, many customers did not qualify for the lowest rate even though they were using more gas in the summer than other customers who did qualify. With the new rate structure, customers can qualify for the lowest rate based on the consumption pattern, not on the type of appliances installed.

This rate structure more fairly rewards customers who use natural gas on a year-round basis and hopefully encourages customers on the General Residential rate to add summer consumption to obtain a substantial discount.

Choose your rate plan
Customers who have year-round use may choose either the Preferred Residential Rate or the General Residential Rate. Our analysis shows that most customers having a gas water heater and gas heating system will save a considerable amount of money on the Preferred Residential Rate, even if they are occasionally charged for minimum consumption during the summer months. If you have a question about your specific situation, please contact our Customer Service Department at 323-5304.

To our General Residential rate customers
For those customers who are not on the Preferred Residential Rate, you can start saving 10% on your gas bill by installing a year-round natural gas appliance. Please call our Sales and Installation Department at 323-5315 for information about year-round appliances such as water heaters, clothes dryers, stoves or grills. These appliances will save you hundreds of dollars in life-time operating costs and also qualify you for the Preferred Residential Rate.