Many consumers seek information about the cause of natural
gas price increases and how they can afford to pay their utility bills. This
page provides links to common questions and answers, current rate information,
and payment options for Dominion customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Nationally, natural gas prices have more than
doubled in the past three years, because the production of new gas
supplies has not kept pace with increasing demand. Natural gas is
increasingly popular for use in homes, businesses, factories and
electric power-generation because it is efficient, clean and reliable.
This demand/supply imbalance has sharply increased market prices
over the past three years.
Natural gas is one of the most volatile commodities
traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange, or Nymex. National market
prices fluctuate widely, up and down, depending on such factors
as hotter-than-normal southern weather, and Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita, which disrupted the production and pipeline transportation
of natural gas from the Gulf of Mexico. Also, the cost of competing
fuels, such as oil, can impact natural gas prices.
What You Can Do
Dominion encourages customers to use
energy more efficiently. Before winter, improve your home insulation
and have your furnace and other natural gas appliances inspected by a qualified professional
contractor to maximize efficiency and comfort.
Dominion's Budget
Payment Plan provides a way for customers to manage their gas
bills to avoid seasonal fluctuation. Budget customers pay a predetermined
amount per month to even out their natural gas bills. Dominion bases
the budget amount on gas prices and customer usage over the past
12 months, and current gas prices.
