Natural gas pains

By Jeremy Meyer/ The Gazette Edited by Sue McMillin; headline by Tim Chong

Call it "sticker shock," but this price tag appeared in the Colorado Springs Utilities envelopes in your mailbox. Recent natural gas rate increases, a colder-than-normal November and a longer rate period has many utilities customers fuming. Their November power bills increased by as much as two and half times over the previous month.

"They're upset," said Gilbert Tamayo, a customer service representative who handles complaints and questions for the power company. He and the other 70 representatives have received about 200 calls a day about this month's high bills, he said.

"The first thing they say is that we misread their meters and that they couldn't have possibly used the gas," he said.

Sorry, folks. Guess again.

Utilities' officials say there are three reasons your bills are higher.

First, the high cost of natural gas supplies around the nation made the city-owned utilities department increase fuel rates 30 percent in October and 5 percent in April. Rates are expected to jump by another 15 percent if approved by the City Council next month.

Second, November was the second-coldest on the Colorado Springs' books, with an average temperature of 30.3 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Because of the cold snap, the average residential customer used 114 ccf of gas last month (one ccf equals 100 cubic feet of natural gas). In November 1999, the average home used 82 ccf.

The price increase in October raised the overall utility bill for an average residential customer to $136 - about $9 a month. The next hike may raise it to $144 a month.

Finally, the recent utilities billing cycle added an extra three to four days onto each bill.

"Those are three big whammies," said Tamayo, who has had his share of dealing with angry customers.

"We just listen and explain to them the gas increase. We all agree ... it's the worst time for this to happen because this is the holiday season and people are trying to save money."

He tells customers about programs that may help people pay their bills, including allowing both residential and commercial customers to stretch payments over 12 months. There are also programs set up to help lower-income customers. Utilities also will continue to offer free home checks to help customers learn how to conserve. Currently, it has about 10 or 12 home checks scheduled Monday through Friday into next month.

Norma and Clemente Galang of Colorado Springs signed up for a home check after receiving their November power bill.

"All of a sudden it was $400," said Clemente Galang. "Usually it is $200."

The Galangs share their home with 10 other relatives. The recent inspection by utilities engineering technician Dave Miller revealed their home had an uncalibrated thermostat, a furnace in need of inspection and a water heater set too high. Miller recommended weather stripping around doors and windows, storm windows and more insulation in the attic.

He told the Galangs how to save money by turning down their thermostat at night, opening window curtains during the day to allow the sunlight to warm their 1960s-era home and replacing furnace filters every other month.

"You don't have to do this," Miller said. "But if you don't ... and the next rate hike comes, your bill is going to be higher."

The Galangs plan to call a contractor to fix their home.

"We will comply with this," Clemente Galang said. "The main reason is to lower the bill."

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-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), December 25, 2000