Anxiety among Oklahoma residents continues to rise over the appearance of their next natural gas bill.
Oklahoma Natural Gas (NGO) has warned its customers to expect a higher than normal gas bill. This happens after the record cold and snow brought the infrastructure to a breaking point.
A watchful eye is being kept on the Sanders family thermostat in Edmond. High natural gas bill notices require a second review.
“We were blessed because our power remained active,” said Steve Sanders. “I am concerned about that, not too afraid. It will be. ”
Bottled water should be fine for now, thanks to the frozen pipes outside that leave Sanders without water. The internal heat is the only thing that prevents disasters and pipes bursting in the attic.
“I would like to think that the energy companies may have a little mercy on everyone and maybe put a ceiling on what would normally be monthly bills,” said Sanders.
NGO declined an interview with News 9 to answer questions about what the bills might look like or what the utility is currently paying for natural gas to distribute to customers.
During a press conference on Thursday, the NGO emphasized residents to keep in order to keep accounts under control.
“It is important for customers to know that our company does not set the price we pay for gas,” the NGO’s vice president of operations, Kent Shortridge, told Oklahoma City officials via Zoom. “We buy gas from suppliers and deliver it to customers at home.”
According to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the fees on your next bill will be the same as the previous month.
It is your use during that cold wave that can take you back to the next billing cycle.
“State law is very simple, it says that a utility company can recover its fuel cost without a profit,” said Oklahoma Corporation Commission spokesman Matt Skinner. “So the commission’s job is initially to examine the charges and make sure that the utility company is not profiting from it.”
Only the Oklahoma Corporation Commission can review and approve rate increases. Neither was requested by the concessionaires, but this is expected once the emergency is over.
Meanwhile, the Sanders family does nothing but wait and pray that their account isn’t as bad as expected.
“Just as they weren’t ready for this storm, neither are we,” said Sanders. “It will really hurt people financially and therefore, maybe they can at least meet people halfway.”
All of this applies only to regulated utilities. The corporation’s commission has no jurisdiction over the municipalities that operate their own gas and electricity services.