Natural gas prices ridiculous in Atlanta - Better to switch to electric. (power lines, rental)

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by AlDesign

I live in the middle unit of a 3 townhouses with a square footage of 1,400. I was amazed that the first months gas bill was $118 for 63 therms ($25 AGLC base, $9.99 customer service, $10 sales tax, $72.66 gas charge). This is in addition to a $60 connect charge AND $150 deposit. In total, this first month of gas costs a whopping $327.90 for 63.240 therms!

That usage seems high? We use Gas South: 51 therms here @ 0.82/therm with a $29.60 AGL Pass charge, $5.95 service fee, $4.63 in taxes, and $41.82 for the gas = $82 in total. That's for a 33 day cycle. And we're in an 20-year-old 2500 sqft house with its original furnace and floor-to-ceiling single-pane windows.

The rates aren't all that dissimilar, but I remember using very little natural gas when we lived in a middle townhouse unit up in the Twin Cities. It was around 1400 sqft, too.

[techugagrad]

You have to shop around for the best provider. Personally, I recommend Fireside Natural Gas. They have excellent prices and customer service.

In the long run, electric will continue to go up with the new nuclear reactors. Also, Ga. Power is converting to be more dependent on natural gas instead of coal (gas is more expensive).

Gas is very variable as to price, but it is relatively cheap this year.

[chacho]

Originally Posted by AlDesign

Actually I'm glad to say I just confirmed a switch from Georgia Natural Gas to mxEnergy (which my friend has) and they don't require a $150 deposit and allow fixed rates for new customers, as well as a cheaper customer rate.

Georgia Natural Gas:
Deposit - $150
Customer fee - $9.99
Rate (they gave no fixed rate) - $1.149 per therm

mxEnergy:
Deposit - $0 (get my $150 back)
Customer fee - $5.95
Rate (they gave fixed) - $.779 per therm

I would save $30 on this bill a month. Hoorah!

Is there a base rate charged by AGL on your monthly bill?
(reference: Atlanta Gas Light Company - Guide to Our Charges)

I downloaded their example charges for this "base rate" and it's ~$25

I just bought a place in Atlanta and am in the process of trying to pick a provider. Recommendations, anyone?

[K'ledgeBldr]

Originally Posted by chacho

I just bought a place in Atlanta and am in the process of trying to pick a provider. Recommendations, anyone?

Not all service providers cover all areas of the metro. You'll have to pick from your area list.
Right now, Walton has the cheapest (per/therm) prices.

[AlDesign]

Originally Posted by cityrover

all utilities are through the roof in ga, including electric.

gas is just a total rip off however.

and your friend is full of it or lives in a trailer or keeps the temp at 10F or is out of the "house" for 23.9 hours of the day

a 2 bedroom apartment will run you 150 in the winter, easily. cooling i can buy, but not the energy required to heat something to any decent temperature

I think you don't know what you're talking about.

Other quote:
i converted from gas to elc last year, gas bill was $150 month,
Electr was $80month, now $130month. (winter)

[AlDesign]

Originally Posted by chacho

Is there a base rate charged by AGL on your monthly bill?
(reference: Atlanta Gas Light Company - Guide to Our Charges)

I downloaded their example charges for this "base rate" and it's ~$25

I just bought a place in Atlanta and am in the process of trying to pick a provider. Recommendations, anyone?

I found the base rate is determined by AGL and the many marketers don't set this. Something like $20-25. So look at the other figures.

[jagcar]

Gas in Georgia is a rip off. Even with zero gas usage there is a minimum of ~$25-$30 per month for gas (for nothing). You can't get next day turn around on turning on gas and customer service sucks. I'm switching to electric heat and water (with some solar water heat).
When GA deregulated gas the promise was that our gas prices would come down due to the 'free-market'. The only problem is there really is no 'free-market' - there are the marketing companies like SCANIA that waste $ on advertising and skim their profits off the top and then there is AGL an unregulated monopoly which actually does all the work. I say go back to a single regulated supplier. AGL was a reasonable supplier before deregulation.

[spotch]

Originally Posted by jagcar

Gas in Georgia is a rip off. Even with zero gas usage there is a minimum of ~$25-$30 per month for gas (for nothing). You can't get next day turn around on turning on gas and customer service sucks. I'm switching to electric heat and water (with some solar water heat).
When GA deregulated gas the promise was that our gas prices would come down due to the 'free-market'. The only problem is there really is no 'free-market' - there are the marketing companies like SCANIA that waste $ on advertising and skim their profits off the top and then there is AGL an unregulated monopoly which actually does all the work. I say go back to a single regulated supplier. AGL was a reasonable supplier before deregulation.

Seconded. I'll never forget that scam... nothing like working your way through college and seeing your gas bill double as the magic of the free market does its job.

I've actually been looking for a news article that talks about how the results from deregulation ended up being the opposite of what was promised but have yet to find a good analysis, strangely enough (you would think that would be a big story?).

[MisterNY]

Originally Posted by AlDesign

I think you don't know what you're talking about.

Other quote:
i converted from gas to elc last year, gas bill was $150 month,
Electr was $80month, now $130month. (winter)

When you say you converted, do you mean, converting appliances and capping the gas line, or did you move to another place with electric (heating/cooking)? Just curious.

[smartygurl]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

An easy solution to that is to obtain some "Restaurant style pans".

Thanks for the tip. I am going to check into that.