Californians are being hit with big increases in their utility bills this winter as natural gas prices spike dramatically, and it’s exceptionally bad timing.
Inflation had already strained household finances. Utility rates had been rising in recent years, but now gas bills are expected to more than double this month, compared with a year ago. Wholesale natural gas prices have tripled since early December and are being passed on directly to customers. Southern California Gas Co. warned its 5.9 million customers to expect “shockingly high” bills, estimating that if they paid $130 a month last winter, the same level of usage could cost $315 this year.
This natural gas price shock should serve as a reminder of the inherent instability of fossil fuels, similar to the surge in gasoline prices last year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It’s the latest illustration of why there are more than just environmental reasons to quickly phase out natural gas, a fossil fuel that pollutes the air and is heating up the planet. It’s not just better for our future to use electric heating and cooking appliances fueled by increasing amounts of renewable energy, but for our pocketbooks, too.
