The cold truth is, natural gas bills are up 30 to 40 percent (Omaha & CB, IA)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20140204/NEWS/140209515/1685#the-cold-truth-is-natural-gas-bills-are-up-30-to-40-percent

Published Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 1:00 am / Updated at 10:33 pm

By Nancy Gaarder

Natural gas customers' bills are about 30 percent to 40 percent higher this winter than last, according to local utilities.

Prices are one driver, but the main culprit is the cold start to winter.

The November-January period was the coldest in four years in Omaha, according to National Weather Service data, and it was all the more painful because last winter was so mild.

The weather has been about 30 percent colder this year than last for the heating season that started in November, said Rhonda Chantry, vice president of rates, regulatory affairs and revenues at the Metropolitan Utilities District. She calculated that natural gas use among MUD customers is up a similar percentage, and gas bills are up by 34 percent.

FULL story at link.

[Glitterati]

1. Not just the midwest

I heat with Natural Gas in Georgia. My heat bill this month was $65.00 higher than normal. From $100 to $165.00.

I sure as hell didn't see a COLA increase in my social security check to cover it. So, this month, I'll have to cut my meds in half to make them last an extra month to cover the cost of heat.