Expect Unusually High Gas Bills In Los Angeles In January: SoCalGas

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles SoCalGas customers can expect to see "shockingly high" bills in January, the company announced last week.

Natural gas market prices more than doubled in the West between December and January with a 128 percent increase, according to SoCalGas. This will translate to higher gas bills for residents.

"The high bills are a result of historically high natural gas prices in the western United States," SoCalGas said in a news release.

To help mitigate the increases, SoCalGas contributed $1 million to its existing Gas Assistance Fund, which helps some customers pay unusually high bills. The fund gives qualifying customers a one-time grant to cover the gas bill up to $100. Among eligible residents, the funds are provided on a first-come-first-served basis, according to SoCalGas. See if you qualify for the grant using this link.

The increased costs are a result of a number of factors, including below-normal temperatures on the West Coast, high demand with customers using extra heating, reduced supplies and pipeline capacity and low storage levels on the West Coast, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

“We understand that our customers are starting to feel the pain caused by large changes in the natural gas market,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Gillian Wright. “And we also recognize that we owe it to our customers to provide them with as many tools and tips as possible to help them find ways to prepare for colder weather and higher winter bills, including financial assistance in some cases.”

SoCalGas encouraged customers to sign up for bill tracker alerts using this link to help monitor gas consumption throughout the billing period. Additionally, customers were encouraged to sign up for a Level Pay Plan to average annual natural gas use and costs over a 12-month period.

SoCalGas also recommended lowering thermostats by three to five degrees, washing clothes in cold water and limiting non-essential natural gas appliances like pool heaters and fireplaces.

For more information on the gas price increase, visit this link.