02/25/2021
Extreme Winter Weather Update
FAQ
SiEnergy understands that there are many concerns regarding how the recent extreme winter weather may impact your monthly bill. We are part of the community we serve and share your concerns. As a utility company, we are dedicated to providing affordable, safe, reliable natural gas and excellent customer service. Any charges to customers related to the excessive increase in cost of gas will be delayed until we can work with our regulators and the Texas Legislature on ways to minimize the financial impact of this event. Please refer to the following frequently asked questions for more specific information.
WILL MY BILL BE HIGHER THAN NORMAL?
Your bill may be higher based on how much natural gas you consumed during your billing period, including consumption during the extreme winter weather. If you conserved during the event your consumption may not be as high as it may have been otherwise.
WHAT IS SÍENERGY DOING TO REDUCE THE IMPACT ON CUSTOMER BILLS?
SiEnergy is currently doing two things to reduce the impact on customer bills. Like other natural gas utilities in Texas, SiEnergy will not immediately charge customers for the excessive charges caused by the daily market price of natural gas. In addition, SiEnergy will utilize our Weather Normalization Adjustment rate (WNA) to reduce the charges you incurred from using more natural gas than is normal during February.
Your base bill includes a fixed monthly customer charge, a volumetric service rate, and a volumetric purchased gas adjustment rate (PGA). The PGA allows the company to recover the cost of gas you consumed. The company makes no profits on the PGA. The PGA is impacted by the daily market price of natural gas and when consumption is higher than normal, the daily market price can be very volatile and climb very high. This is what happened during the weather event. We will delay excessive charges until we can work with our regulators and the Texas Legislature on ways to minimize the financial impact of this event on you. You will pay for all the volumes you consumed during the weather event but at a price that will approximate what you would have experienced had the event not occurred.
SíEnergy also utilizes a Weather Normalization Adjustment rate (WNA). Natural gas distribution volumetric service rates are based on “Normal” weather conditions as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). If actual weather conditions vary from “Normal” for any day during the winter season, the WNA will adjust your bill so that the company is only compensated as though there was “Normal” weather conditions. This means that if you used more natural gas than the “Normal” consumption assumed by our Regulators for February, the WNA rate will credit your bill at the volumetric service rate for your excess consumption. This prevents natural gas distribution utilities from getting a windfall on its cost of providing service simply because the weather was colder than normal. Unfortunately, this clause does not apply to the PGA.
WHY DID THE COST OF GAS GET SO HIGH?
The cost of gas is determined by market influences, which include supply and demand, amount in storage, delivery impacts, and many other factors. When the historic winter storm hit Texas, there was an increase in demand for natural gas and not enough supply. SíEnergy does not profit off the cost of natural gas.
WHAT CAN I DO IF I CANNOT AFFORD MY BILL?
SíEnergy offers deferred payment options year-round. If you cannot pay your bill for any reason, please call Customer Service to arrange for an extension or a payment plan. We will do our best to find a solution that works for you. These options do not include additional charges. Third-party resources may also be available to provide additional financial assistance. Call 211 or visit www.211texas.org for more information.
DO I STILL NEED TO CONSERVE NATURAL GAS USAGE?
Customers may return to normal usage habits. We appreciate everyone’s efforts and understanding as we worked hard to prevent significant natural gas service outages system wide.
WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE THE IMPACT ON MY BILL?
Your conservation efforts may have already had an impact on your consumption by reducing the amount you may have used had you not conserved natural gas. If you would like to continue to conserve, this will help lower your costs by reducing consumption.
• Keep your heat on 68° or lower when you are at home, and 10° to 15° degrees lower when you are away from the house for more than a few hours.
• Lower your water heater to 120°.
• Minimize air leaks around the home.
• Ensure your water heater and furnace get an annual tune up to ensure efficient appliances.
• Be mindful of how often you use high usage appliances like pools, hot tubs, or fireplaces.
Your bill is calculated based on the difference between the most current read of your meter and the last read of your meter or the read on your last bill. You may read your meter at any time to check your own usage and make decisions based on your actual consumption. Check our website for additional information.
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