The gas bill is $907.13? Sticker shock for Californians as prices soar

[TBoneTX 45,267]

People are having to live like paupers.

The gas bill is $907.13?  Sticker shock for Californians as prices soar

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/the-gas-bill-is-90713-sticker-shock-for-californians-as-prices-soar/ar-AA17whLL

[laylalex 7,284]

We have had really, really low gas bills a long time. I remember in my first apartment out of college my bi-monthly bill hovered around $4. The last one we paid before the gouger was about $35. This round from SoCalGas was o_O. This isn't necessarily a "California bad" story because SoCalGas is, well, a private company. A private company which has a monopoly. My husband comes from a country with competition in the natural gas market, and rates are (in his recollection -- he hasn't lived there in over 5 years) accordingly lower. Same thing with internet -- lots of providers over there, and here we're stuck with Spectrum in my current home AND where we're moving to. 

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

gee, who could have seen this coming with so many wanting to get rid of coal and switch power production to natural gas?

[Dashinka 24,491]

17 hours ago, laylalex said:

We have had really, really low gas bills a long time. I remember in my first apartment out of college my bi-monthly bill hovered around $4. The last one we paid before the gouger was about $35. This round from SoCalGas was o_O. This isn't necessarily a "California bad" story because SoCalGas is, well, a private company. A private company which has a monopoly. My husband comes from a country with competition in the natural gas market, and rates are (in his recollection -- he hasn't lived there in over 5 years) accordingly lower. Same thing with internet -- lots of providers over there, and here we're stuck with Spectrum in my current home AND where we're moving to. 

To be fair, a private company that is highly regulated by the state.

 

[yuna628 9,674]

Gas is getting pretty low here, even by Joe's house. Though if you go into PA, the prices go up again, which I can never figure out.

[LIBrty4all 3,749]

California is gonna California people into poverty.  I read the article in the OP, and contacted my buddy in AK.  He is on natural gas with a single private company, and his bill averages about $230 a month.  And it's a LOT colder up there than in SoCal.

[TBoneTX 45,267]

4 hours ago, yuna628 said:

if you go into PA, the prices go up again

State gas taxes?

[yuna628 9,674]

5 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

State gas taxes?

Don't know. Around Joe's house in the cushy area it was about $3.24, drive right over the border and you're looking at $3.55. I have seen higher in other parts of PA. We try to avoid getting gas in PA that's for sure..

Edited February 16, 2023 by yuna628

[laylalex 7,284]

5 hours ago, LIBrty4all said:

California is gonna California people into poverty.  I read the article in the OP, and contacted my buddy in AK.  He is on natural gas with a single private company, and his bill averages about $230 a month.  And it's a LOT colder up there than in SoCal.

 

6 hours ago, Dashinka said:

To be fair, a private company that is highly regulated by the state.

 

Sempra (parent company) is regulated by the state, as it should be. You may not be aware about what happened at Aliso Canyon a few years ago, but it was the biggest gas leak in US history. Understandably things have gotten under a lot more scrutiny in terms of gas storage around here. On the other hand, things are probably moving too slowly there. Everyone wants it to work better, but there are bottlenecks. 

 

The state and local governments are NOT happy about what is happening. The governor has asked for a public inquiry into what is going on, and the state is looking into rebates. This article from CalMatters is a good, evenhanded discussion on what has been happening here: https://calmatters.org/economy/2023/02/gas-prices-utilities-commission/ 

[Boiler 45,478]

I saw the article when it first came out, and yes a lot of the price rise is down to political decisions.

 

The article is talking about long term investments that could reduce future bills, I see issues, California is moving away from gas and any such investment will be spread over many years and charged to an ever declining user base.

[Dashinka 24,491]

17 hours ago, Boiler said:

I saw the article when it first came out, and yes a lot of the price rise is down to political decisions.

 

The article is talking about long term investments that could reduce future bills, I see issues, California is moving away from gas and any such investment will be spread over many years and charged to an ever declining user base.

Something like 250k per year.  Not sure how much of that is migration vs deaths.

[TBoneTX 45,267]

6 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Not sure how much of that is migration vs deaths.

Just saw some figures on this; will try to find them.

To minimize deaths, feed everybody insects, as recommended by the WEF.

[Dashinka 24,491]

21 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Just saw some figures on this; will try to find them.

To minimize deaths, feed everybody insects, as recommended by the WEF.

Yep, our Davos “betters”.

[TBoneTX 45,267]

1 hour ago, Dashinka said:

Yep, our Davos “betters”.

How much better off we'd be without them...