Here's how it works. Roughly half your monthly gas bill is for the actual methane that you burn in your stove, your water heater, your furnace, maybe even your clothes dryer. The other half is for bringing the gas from the well to your doorstep and for maintaining the underground pipeline system. Customers in choice programs have the option of shopping for someone who will sell them the natural gas for less than the rate charged by their current utility. What consumers must decide is whether the hassles of shopping are worth five or 10 bucks a month in savings.
Equitable officials compare it to buying a cake.
If you want a cake, you can purchase one from a bakery. Or you can purchase the ingredients separately and put it together yourself. Baking your own may save money, but it takes effort. Same with shopping for natural gas. The utilities say they don't worry about losing gas sales.