SPRINGFIELD, Ma (KY3) – According to City Utilities, cold weather conditions have put a huge demand on natural gas supplies in the Springfield region.
According to City Utilities, natural gas wells are freezing in the southwest, causing limited supplies. In response, suppliers are expected to increase prices on the remaining supplies of natural gas.
“This is an unprecedented weather event that affects not only all of our customers, but also customers of natural gas utilities throughout the Middle East,” said Gary Gibson, General Manager and CEO of City Utilities of Springfield, “our priority at every service that we deliver is to keep our customers safe and ensure that we do everything in our power during this serious winter event. ”
The cost has risen from a market price of $ 3 per dekatherm rate to almost $ 400 per dekatherm, City Utilities said in a news release on Sunday.
While CU buys less than 25 percent of its natural gas inventory on the market, this situation is likely to have an impact on future utility bills. The remainder of natural gas for City Utilities customers comes from fixed-price contracts and storage purchased out of season.
In preparation for the cold weather, City Utilities has entered into a natural gas supply agreement with several commercial and industrial customers who have the ability to switch from natural gas to an alternative fuel source. This option immediately diverts the offer to residential and other commercial customers and is effective until Tuesday at 9am, but can be extended.
In addition, City Utilities has activated the Natural Gas Peak Shaving system, which combines a supply of propane and air and is injected into the natural gas transmission system to help with this peak demand. This will be the first time this system will be used and set up for such an event.
“We ask our community, as we have done so many times in the past, to work together to spend this peak time with the least possible impact,” Gibson said. “We’ve seen businesses voluntarily reduce their use, and we’re asking everyone to do the same.”
Here are some steps you can take to reduce your impact on your utility bill:
• Switch off your thermostat at least 2 degrees below normal. 68 degrees is the suggested average setting for winter.
• Limit the use of fireplaces with natural gas.
• Limit the use of plugged in electric space heaters.
• Lower the temperature setting of your boiler.
• Look for other opportunities within your home to reduce the use of electricity and natural gas during this short period of time
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