She said other relatives have had high bills as well. She questioned how the gas company expected people living on fixed incomes to pay such high bills. A niece had to find public assistance to pay her last bill. Bob Ines, a representative of Columbia Gas, said that the gas cost usually makes up about one third of the bill. Natural gas utility companies do not profit from the sale of gas itself.
Consumers pay the same price as the utility companies.
Though low supplies and increased demands have kept prices high, Ines said that customers should expect a little relief in their gas bills soon. We re actually seeing a decrease. Prices are adjusted each quarter according to the gas-purchase adjustment. Ines said that the company is waiting for the State Corporation Commission to approve the decrease. Ines said that Columbia Gas is looking for ways to provide immediate relief as well.