Quote:
Originally Posted by haggardhouseelf
A 15% increase? I'm kind of a dummy with regards to all this stuff... but that sounds like a big jump to me. 
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No, you're not a dummy. It's not chump change. Add that increase up for 3 or 4 months or so, and it adds up. Again, there was no indication when the rates may go down, or even if they'll go down. I'm guessing they will, but who knows when, especially with the way the economy is. Essentially, they have customers over a barrel. If you use gas, apart from cutting back (hard to do in cold weather) or installing an alternative system, what other choice do you have but to pay for it?
I could be wrong, but I think the increase has nothing to do with the rates the gas company had to pay for gas, but may be a speculative hedge against the future economy. If that's the case, then I don't think it's fair to put the burden on their customers. If they're wrong, we still get stuck with paying the higher rates.
Where To Complain
It might be possible to complain to the Public Utility Commission of Oregon, but I don't know how effective that would actually be. However, if they get enough complaints, they could take action and force the gas company to reduce the rates. And as slow as that process would be, it could be months or longer before any real reduction would start showing up on your bill as a credit. The phone number for the Commission is on the back of your utility bill as required by law.
Low Income Assistance
For low income people, it's possible to qualify for energy assistance funds. However, application should be made early (like by October) because although the annual reserve funds are supposedly available throughout the year, they can become depleted very quickly if there's a high demand for assistance, especially as it gets closer to colder months.
Equal Pay Plan
It's also possible to request an Equal Pay Plan which is averaged from the last 12 months and stretched out over the next 12 months. It could mean a good reduction in your monthly bills during the colder months, but it would also mean higher bills during the warmer seasons.
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