If excessive profits are earned, they are returned to the consumers. Except in unusual circumstances, utilities are not permitted to estimate monthly bills. This stems from many things, including environmental pressures which have hampered drilling, the building of pipelines and electric transmission lines, refineries, generating plants and the use of coal and nuclear power. In addition, the demand for gas and electricity is at an all-time high, and continues to grow at unprecedented levels. Our immediate situation this winter is exacerbated by the unusually cold weather we are experiencing.
Demand is up, supply is down and the basic laws of economics take over.
Until the supply can meet the demand, costs will remain high. We hope that balance of supply and demand will return sooner rather than later. The federal government, many years ago, deregulated the price of natural gas at the wellhead, so we have no control over that. We have ordered all the gas distribution companies to work with their customers who may need additional time to pay off an unusually high bill. Some customers may want to go to an annualized payment plan.