Shocked at your Whatcom County energy bill this month? Here’s why
Cold weather and gas cost increases from Puget Sound Energy and Cascade Natural Gas have raised energy bills for Whatcom County residents, but there is help.
The more difference there is between the temperature outside and the thermostat setting inside, the more energy your heating system will use, even if you don’t turn the thermostat higher, according to Columbia River People’s Utility District in Oregon.
These impacts are worse on homes that don’t have enough insulation or have single-paned or aluminum-framed windows or air leaks around windows, doors, and plumbing and electrical boxes.
As temperatures decreased, costs increased.
The cost of natural gas through Cascade Natural Gas was expected to increase about 22% compared to last year, as well as increases in other items that ended up increasing customers’ bills by about 23.8%, according to an email from Mark Hanson, Cascade Natural Gas spokesman.
The gas company files gas cost adjustments yearly to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, projecting the next year’s natural gas cost that if approved, would take effect on Nov. 1.
Cascade Natural Gas sent out a notice of the increasing gas cost adjustment to customers in October, according to Hanson.
“The cost of natural gas is a straight pass-through to customers. Cascade does not mark-up the price or earn a profit on it,” Hanson wrote.
Cascade Natural Gas was not the only natural gas company with rate increases through the UTC. All four of Washington state’s investor-owned natural gas utility companies were approved to increase costs.
Puget Sound Energy also alerted customers about increasing bills that would start in January, after also filing a rate increase proposal with the UTC. The proposal was filed in January 2022 according to an email from Melanie Coon, Puget Sound Energy public relations manager, and increased both PSE electric and natural gas rates.
The company credited the increasing costs to “a combination of factors, including rising natural gas prices, state policy objectives for clean energy, and continued investments in system reliability and safety,” an Oct. 3, 2022 press release from PSE stated.
A typical natural gas residential customer’s bill would increase by $13 per month, according to the press release, which also clarified that “PSE does not profit from the natural gas it purchases for customers.”
Save on energy bills
As energy bills increase, you may be needing some help paying your bills.
The Opportunity Council, a private non-profit agency serving low-income and homeless families and individuals in Whatcom, San Juan and Island counties, offers utility assistance programs for those needing help paying utility bills.
The program can provide assistance for heating, energy, water, sewer, electricity, natural gas, propane, wood and heating oil bills. Whatcom County residents seeking assistance can call 360-255-2192 to see if they are eligible or answer questions in a short online form.
The Washington State Department of Commerce has a low-income home energy assistance program, that helps provide funds for people who need assistance paying utility bills. Eligibility depends on multiple factors such as household size, income and heating costs, and applications can be found online.
Winterize to save
The utility district suggests these actions to minimize your energy use during a cold snap:
▪ “Turn your thermostat down a few degrees. Each degree you lower it can save up to 2% on your heating bill. Set it even lower when you are away or asleep but be sure to keep your house at least 55 degrees at all times to prevent pipes from freezing and to avoid moisture problems.
▪ “Use portable space heaters wisely. If you spend most of your time in one or two rooms, using space heaters to keep those rooms warmer, and turning your furnace down to let the rest of the house stay cooler, can help save energy. This works best if you can close off the rooms you are using, and if you only use one or two space heaters. A typical space heater uses 1,500 watts of electricity and an electric furnace uses 10 times that much.
▪ “Get rid of drafts. If you feel cold air coming in, warm air is escaping. Keep windows and doors closed, and use caulk or weather stripping to seal leaks around windows, doors, and plumbing penetrations.
▪ “Cover your windows. Tight-fitting, insulated window coverings can help minimize heat loss through the windows. Keep curtains and blinds closed unless the sun is shining directly on the glass.
▪ “Check your furnace filters to see if they need to be cleaned or replaced. Dirty or clogged filters make your furnace work harder, increasing energy usage.
▪ “Check your insulation levels. If your home is poorly insulated, adding insulation will lower your energy bills. If you heat with electricity, ask us about rebates for insulation upgrades.
▪ “Upgrade your heating system. If you heat your home with electric-resistant heat (electric furnace, baseboards, plug-in heaters, etc.), consider upgrading to a much more efficient heat pump or ductless heat pump.”
How did an increase in your energy bill impact your budget? Let us know at newsroom@bellinghamherald.com.
