Shopping will save you money

by Tom Olecki, Owner, Broadview Heating

Like most consumables, natural gas prices have risen rapidly and are expected to continue to remain high. I have been amazed at the high gas rates I have observed on customers’ bills this season. Some are more than three times higher than they need to be. The good news is you don’t have to pay the higher cost of natural gas if you shop for a better price. Yes, you can price shop for the best natural gas rate just as you do when you need to fill your car with fuel.
To accurately know what you are looking for, you must first understand a few terms. MCF is an abbreviation for a standard measure of gas, or 1,000 cubic feet. This is how customers in Dominion Gas territory are charged. Customers in Columbia Gas territory are charged per CCF, which is an abbreviation for a standard measure of gas or 100 cubic feet. If you are reading this article you are most likely in one or the other of these gas suppliers.
Now take out your last gas bill and divide the total cost due by the total MCF of CCF used on your bill.
For example, a Dominion bill of $308.87 divided by 32.4 MCF equals $9.53 per MCF.
For a Columbia bill of $308.87 divided by 324 CCF equals $0.953 per CCF.
Now that you know what you are paying per MCF or CCF, you can go to a website that compares all available gas rates to each other.
The site is energychoice.ohio.gov/ApplesToApples.aspx. Once you are at this page, click “compare natural gas offers,” then “residential,” then on either Dominion Energy Ohio or Columbia gas depending on who your supplier is.
The next page has all the current gas rates available in your territory. Compare these prices to the price you calculated above. Notice you can chose either a fixed or a variable rate, and these are priced accordingly. You will also find the phone number or website on this page where you can easily sign up for the plan of your choice. Be certain to review any terms and/ or early termination fees before signing up. You may find what you are paying now and what is available could save you lots of money on your bills.
Sound too confusing? Call me, or better yet, visit me with your gas bill in hand and I will be happy to help you figure it out.

Questions are always welcome. For free help with your heating/cooling system, ask the experts at broadviewheating@sbcglobal.net or call 440-526-7310.

Tom Olecki, Owner, Broadview Heating

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Questions are always welcome. For free help with your heating/cooling system, ask the experts at broadviewheating@sbcglobal.net or call 440-526-7310.

Opinions and claims expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of ScripType Publishing.