Amid a backdrop of rising energy prices, UGI Utilities, Inc. makes the case that natural gas is a strong energy value for households and businesses.
UGI said when compared to other energy choices, natural gas represents significant energy savings on consumers’ monthly bills. According to an article from Shrink that Footprint cited by the company, natural gas prices in the United States are a bargain for consumers, with the annual heating customer saving about $1,500 per year using a natural gas furnace versus fuel oil, and more than $2,800 per year compared to electric baseboard heat.
“Natural gas not only provides value for heating but also offers an economical choice for hot water heating, cooking, clothes drying, and other residential and business needs,” UGI said in a recent blog post. “Natural gas has proven to be an economical value for homes and businesses for many years. With a local, plentiful supply providing warmth and comfort, natural gas will prove to be a wise investment for many years to come.”
UGI also helps consumers save money through its UGI Utilities Energy Efficiency and Conservation program which provides rebates for installing energy-efficient equipment in homes and businesses. When a UGI customer installs a Smart Thermostat, EnergyStar Furnace, gas boiler, tankless water heater, or other natural gas home energy upgrades, customers receive a rebate of between $50 and $1,500. In 2022 alone, the company said, its customers received an estimated $8.8 million in rebates.
Additionally, the company highlighted its Weather Normalization Adjustment provision, a billing mechanism designed to stabilize customer distribution charges due to weather-related usage charges. Between October and May each year, if temperatures are more than 3 percent colder than normal in a given month, customers will receive a credit on their bill, and if temperatures are more than 3 percent warmer, they will receive a surcharge. In months of normal weather, the bills are not adjusted.