We emphasize that the high gas prices have resulted from high demand and tight supplies nationwide and that producers have raised their prices accordingly. We will continue to offer installment and average billing and we will continue to provide a safe, reliable energy product to our customers. One kWh is equal to a 100-watt light bulb burning for 10 hours. Customers meters measure kWh usage and are read once a month. The previous month s reading is subtracted from the current reading to determine the number of kWhs used.
Many factors influence kWh usage.
Individual lifestyles, weather, home insulation values, thermostat settings on heating and cooling equipment, thermostat settings on water heaters, appliance usage, the number of days in a billing cycle and fuel costs all affect customers bills. One component of customers bills, the fuel adjustment charge, has increased with the rising costs of natural gas, nationwide. The unusually cold temperatures in December and January have also caused bills to increase. One significant difference is that electricity production and usage occur simultaneously, while gas production and usage do not. Once a gas company completes exploration and production, the company has the option of selling or storing the gas.