Opening your natural gas bill and seeing a higher-than-expected total can leave you wondering, “Why is my natural gas bill so high?” The answer isn’t always as simple as using more natural gas.
Changes in the weather, your household’s energy habits, the efficiency of your appliances and your natural gas rate can all affect what you pay. Even when your routine hasn’t changed much, your natural gas bill can. The good news is that understanding what’s behind a higher natural gas bill can help you identify where you may be able to reduce your natural gas usage and better manage your energy costs.
Common Reasons Your Natural Gas Bill Is So High
A higher bill doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. Several factors can contribute to an increase, and sometimes more than one is responsible.
1. Colder Weather Is Increasing Your Heating Usage
When temperatures fall, your heating system has to work harder to keep your home comfortable. That can mean longer heating cycles and higher natural gas consumption if you use a gas furnace or boiler.
The seasons make a meaningful difference in residential energy consumption. The U.S. Energy Information Administration notes that households in colder states tend to consume more site energy than households in warmer states.
In the end, a higher winter gas bill may be the result of increased heating demand rather than a major change in your everyday habits.
2. Your Natural Gas Rate Has Changed
Using the same amount of natural gas doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll pay the same amount. If the rate you pay changes, your total bill can change even when your household consumption stays similar.
When comparing bills, check both the amount of natural gas you consumed and the rate charged. This can help you determine whether your higher bill is primarily related to increased consumption, price or a combination of the two.
One way to gain more predictability is with a fixed-rate natural gas plan. CleanSky Energy offers fixed-rate natural gas plans that lock in your natural gas supply rate for the length of your contract, helping protect you from price fluctuations.
3. You’re Using Your Natural Gas Appliances More Often
Your furnace isn’t the only thing in your home that may run on natural gas. Depending on your home, natural gas can also power your stove, oven, water heater, clothes dryer and other appliances.
Changes in your routine can increase natural gas usage without you realizing it. Think about Thanksgiving: The oven may be running for hours, you’re cooking more dishes on the stove, overnight guests may mean more hot showers, and extra loads of laundry could keep a gas dryer busy. Each appliance contributes to your home’s overall natural gas consumption.
The same idea applies throughout the year. If you’re cooking at home more often or using other gas-powered equipment more frequently, you could see the difference reflected in your usage. If your natural gas bill suddenly seems higher, think about what’s changed around the house. Sometimes the answer isn’t one appliance using significantly more energy, but several gas appliances being used more often.
4. Your Furnace or Gas Appliances Are Working Less Efficiently
If you’re noticing an unexplained change in your gas consumption, the condition and operation of your gas appliances may be worth considering.
5. Your Home Has Drafts or Poor Insulation
Heating your home becomes more difficult when warm air can easily escape. Air leaks around windows and doors, poor insulation and inefficient ductwork can cause your heating system to work harder and run longer to maintain a comfortable temperature. If your home uses a natural gas furnace, that extra runtime can mean using more natural gas.
6. Your Billing Period or Other Charges Changed
Not everything on your natural gas bill is tied directly to the amount of gas you consumed. When your bill looks unusually high, check:
• The number of days in the billing period
• Fixed charges
• Taxes and other applicable charges
This gives you a more complete picture of what changed.
How Can I Tell What’s Making My Natural Gas Bill Higher?
Instead of guessing, do a little detective work with your current and previous bills. Start with these seven questions:
1. Did My Natural Gas Usage Increase?
Compare the amount consumed with your previous bill.
2. Did My Rate Change?
Look beyond the total amount due and compare the rate you’re paying.
3. How Does This Bill Compare With the Same Month Last Year?
Comparing January with December may not tell the full story because monthly usage can change significantly.
4. Was the Billing Period Longer?
More days in a billing cycle can mean more usage.
5. Was the Weather Unusually Cold?
If so, your heating system may have operated more frequently.
6. Did Anything Change at Home?
Think about thermostat settings, houseguests, hot water usage and gas-powered appliances.
7. Did Other Charges Change?
Review the entire statement rather than comparing only the final total.
Looking at these factors together can help you separate a usage increase from a rate increase and determine your next step.
How Can I Lower My Natural Gas Bill?
Once you have a better idea of why your bill increased, you can focus on the things within your control.
1. Adjust Your Thermostat
Avoid heating an empty home more than necessary, and review your thermostat schedule to make sure it reflects your household’s actual routine. If managing temperature settings manually feels like a chore, a smart thermostat can provide additional control over your heating and cooling schedule.
2. Seal Air Leaks and Insulate Your Home
Look for obvious places where warm air may escape, particularly around windows and exterior doors. It’s also worth considering your home’s insulation and ductwork. Addressing energy loss means your heating equipment doesn’t have to compensate as much to maintain your preferred temperature.
3. Reduce Unnecessary Hot Water Usage
If you have a natural gas water heater, hot water is part of your gas consumption too. Simple habits such as running full loads of laundry and avoiding unnecessary hot water use can help reduce the amount of energy your household uses.
4. Use Gas Appliances Efficiently
Pay attention to how and when you use natural gas appliances. Running appliances only when needed and properly maintaining them can prevent unnecessary consumption.
5. Monitor Your Natural Gas Usage
Your bill is more than just an amount due. It’s also a useful record of your household’s energy consumption. Check your usage regularly and compare it with previous periods. Patterns can make it easier to notice an unusual increase early and investigate what changed.
6. Understand Your Natural Gas Plan and Rate
Finally, know what you’re paying for natural gas and what type of plan you have. Understanding your energy plan makes it easier to distinguish between a bill increase caused by your consumption and one related to your rate.
Why Is My Natural Gas Bill High in the Summer?
The cooler seasons gets most of the attention, but turning off your furnace doesn’t necessarily mean your home stops using natural gas. Depending on your home, you may still use natural gas for water heating, cooking, clothes drying, pool heating, outdoor appliances and other gas-powered equipment.
That means changes to your summer routine can still affect your gas usage.
Make A Cleaner Natural Gas Choice With CleanSky Energy
Your natural gas bill isn’t just an opportunity to think about how much energy your home uses. It’s also an opportunity to think about the kind of energy plan you choose. At CleanSky Energy, we’re focused on providing cleaner energy choices, including carbon-neutral natural gas.
With carbon-neutral natural gas, the natural gas delivered to your home doesn’t physically change. Instead, the carbon emissions associated with your natural gas usage are addressed through carbon offsets. That gives customers a way to reduce the carbon impact associated with their natural gas consumption without replacing their gas appliances or changing how they heat their homes.
Ready to make the switch? Explore CleanSky Energy’s natural gas plans and find an option available in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Did My Natural Gas Bill Suddenly Increase?
A sudden increase can have several causes, including colder weather, increased natural gas consumption, a rate change or changes in household habits. Compare your current bill with previous statements to see whether your usage, rate, billing period or other charges changed.
Does Cold Weather Increase Natural Gas Bills?
It can. If your home uses natural gas for heating, colder temperatures can cause your furnace to operate more often to maintain the indoor temperature. Increased heating demand can therefore increase natural gas consumption.
Can an Old Furnace Increase My Natural Gas Bill?
An inefficient heating system can require more energy to keep your home comfortable. If your heating equipment isn’t performing efficiently or is no longer keeping the house comfortable, it may be time to replace your equipment or have it evaluated by a professional.
Why Is My Natural Gas Bill High When I’m Not Using the Heat?
Your home may use natural gas for more than space heating. A natural gas water heater, dryer, stove, fireplace or other gas-powered appliance may continue consuming gas when your furnace is off. Your bill may also contain charges that are not directly tied to consumption.
How Can I Use Less Natural Gas at Home?
Start with the areas where your household uses natural gas. You can review thermostat settings, maintain heating equipment, address drafts and air leaks, reduce unnecessary hot water consumption and monitor gas usage from one billing cycle to the next.
Should I Compare My Natural Gas Bill With Last Month or Last Year?
Both comparisons can be useful, but comparing the same month year over year can provide additional context because natural gas use can vary significantly by season. You should also compare the actual usage and rate, not just the dollar amount.
