If it seems like your utility bill has been higher than normal this winter, you’re right.
“I did see a lot of the bills going out this past month and it concerned me. They did seem to go up quite a bit,” Roxanne Hutton, Iola city clerk, said.
Hutton cited a trio of factors over the past couple of months that created a perfect storm for higher utility bills: cold weather, increased usage and higher natural gas prices.
The recent bills included the holidays, which can result in higher consumption for a couple of reasons. First, families gather together or children return home to visit, increasing the amount of utilities used. Also, because of time off for holidays, meter reading may have been delayed, which means some bills may include more days than usual, Hutton said.
Temperatures plunged a couple of times since mid-November, including a bitter cold snap that dropped temperatures below 0 degrees just before Christmas. That likely resulted in increased usage.
And natural gas prices have increased about 25% over last year. Prices are now in the $12 mcf range, compared to $9.25 at this time last year.
The city’s electric, water and other rates have not changed, but increased usage may result in higher bills in those areas, too.
On top of all that, inflation means costs for just about everything — from food to household items and more — have increased as well.
Locally, Humanity House and the Ministerial Alliance can help with utility payments.
The Ministerial Alliance oversees the state’s CURB program — Citizens’ Utility Ratepayers Board — through Wesley United Methodist Church.
Following are options for utility payments:
City of Iola
Though the city itself doesn’t offer utility assistance, Hutton is a great resource for those concerned about higher energy costs.
Hutton recommends the Average Monthly Payments program, also called “level pay,” where a customer’s monthly bill is calculated by averaging the previous 12 months of usage. The program typically means a customer will pay close to the same amount each month, allowing for easier budgeting and avoiding the sticker shock from extreme variations.
But not every customer qualifies. You must have lived in your current residence for at least a year, and can’t have incurred delinquent payments or had your utilities shut off.
