Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The gas bill is $907.13? Sticker shock for Californians as prices soar
Los Angeles Times. ^ | FEB. 15, 2023 | Laura J. Nelson

Posted on 02/16/2023 7:36:37 AM PST by george76

Brent Eldridge had heard that prices for natural gas were high this winter, but nothing prepared him for how bad it could be.

When he opened the envelope from Long Beach’s utility department, he couldn’t believe the total: $907.13, nearly eight times higher than his bill at the same time last year.

“It made me want to puke,” said Eldridge, 48, a pastor.

Household budgets in the Golden State, already stretched thin as prices soar for everything from rent to eggs, are being pummeled by monster gas bills.

Southern California Gas Co. and Pacific Gas & Electric began warning customers in January that they would see higher bills after the wholesale price of natural gas hit record highs. But reality didn’t sink in for many customers until their bills started arriving later in the month.

...

Bills have soared “to levels that we haven’t seen in the last 20 years,” Richardson said. “We know families are struggling to make ends meet.”

...

SoCalGas and PG&E attributed rising costs to unusually cold weather

...

California imports about 90% of its natural gas.

...

The increase is not fair for working-class families.

...

Lionel Mares .. reading the fine print of his bill, which said he was being charged $3.45 per therm (one unit of natural gas), up from 84 cents at the same time last year.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: agw; california; climatechange; energy; energyschadenfreude; gas; globalwarming; naturalgas
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last
To: george76

My bill was $300 (SoCAl) - and I was gone for two weeks with the heat turned off in the house - otherwise the house is set at 68 degrees. My neighbors were complaining of bills in the $500+ range, almost four times what they paid last year at the same time.

The gas Co. has been sending us alerts warning us as to “soaring prices” and to not be shocked when we open up our bills. The governor, of course, blames the gas companies while the gas companies tell us it is due to restrictions, regulations and onerous rules they must follow in California.


21 posted on 02/16/2023 7:54:34 AM PST by Bon of Babble (Rigged Elections have Consequences)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

I am experience the feeling of trying not to laugh and failing.

I got out of there just in time - now 11 years ago. I just wish the BLUE Californians would NOT follow me here to N. Texas!


22 posted on 02/16/2023 7:55:00 AM PST by freedumb2003 (Difference between a cow and the US Capitol 1/6 "riot:" you can only milk a cow 3 times a day)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: unixfox

Just go solar. That should fix everything.

I live in California and the folks I know with solar say it actually does greatly reduce their utility bills. I can't say I'm opposed to people breaking free from a government monopoly to pursue self-sufficiency.

23 posted on 02/16/2023 7:56:02 AM PST by FormerFRLurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: blackdog

Kinda puts a chill in that global warming cult dogma, doesn’t it?


Which is why it’s now climate change.

Perfect scam huh?


24 posted on 02/16/2023 7:56:14 AM PST by saleman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: lgjhn23

Yep. And watch for the idiot governor of the state of California to be run by the Democrats for POTUS in 2028.

It is his policies that are causing national gas prices and regular gasoline prices to soar - and fires to rage out of control all over the state. He wants to ban gasoline engines by 2035.


25 posted on 02/16/2023 7:56:23 AM PST by Bon of Babble (Rigged Elections have Consequences)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: blackdog
Noted on my PG&E bill that is $150 higher than last year's with little change in temperature (50-60 degrees most days) or in electrical usage/cost:

"Higher demand and tighter supply on the West Coast are driving up gas prices."

26 posted on 02/16/2023 7:57:48 AM PST by glennaro (Never give up ... never give in ... never surrender ... and enjoy every minute of doing so.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

The voters blame “evil, greedy, polluting corporations” because that is who the democrat pols ALWAYS tell them to blame instead of their own policies of high taxes and onerous regulations. The voters buy it and continue to vote for the likes of Schiff, Newsom, Weiner, Pelosi and Feinstein (at 89 years old).

In 50 years the Dems have run my home state into the ground - with no end in sight. Glad my Dad isn’t here to see this.


27 posted on 02/16/2023 7:59:49 AM PST by Bon of Babble (Rigged Elections have Consequences)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: unixfox

“Just go solar”

My daughter and fiancé bought a house in Concord, CA with solar on the flat roof. She is always bragging about her $12 electric bill and almost no gas usage (just a heat pump).


28 posted on 02/16/2023 8:01:44 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (Once you get people to believe that a plural pronoun is singular, they'll believe anything - nicollo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Bon of Babble

I was born in California, but raised in Mississippi.

I was stationed in California in the early 70’s in the Marines.

I travelled all over Southern Cal on my motorcycle and I’m glad I got to see it, up close and personal, before it was turned into a sh!t hole....................


29 posted on 02/16/2023 8:04:28 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: glennaro

Greedy gas stations price gouging.......no wait.....Putins gas hike....no wait.....excessive corporate profits......no wait....supply chains due to covid.....no wait......


30 posted on 02/16/2023 8:05:20 AM PST by blackdog ((Z28.310) Forget "Global Warming", new grants are for "Galaxy Dimming")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: george76
The increase is not fair for working-class families.

Keep voting for Dems.

31 posted on 02/16/2023 8:05:22 AM PST by 1Old Pro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76
frozen-jack

32 posted on 02/16/2023 8:05:37 AM PST by The Louiswu (Michael Ries)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76
“The first message is: Don’t panic. We are not disconnecting customers. We don’t plan to resume any disconnection of customers until much later. And second, there are options, and we can find solutions.” -- Gillian Wright, a SVP and Chief Customer Officer.

Now that is one major asshole, "Let them eat cake" remark if I ever heard one. The only SOLUTION to this is to oust all greenie democrats from government (better to tar and feather them, actually) so we can once again build things and improve gas supply.

Gillian went on to say "See, we are helping you! We are delaying your disconnect. How can you say we are not helping you and finding solutions?"

33 posted on 02/16/2023 8:06:46 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (Once you get people to believe that a plural pronoun is singular, they'll believe anything - nicollo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Mine got as high as $700 last year (GA). I was not on the fixed-rate plan. I am on it now, and the highest this year has been $340. It just took a phone call.


34 posted on 02/16/2023 8:09:03 AM PST by bk1000 (Banned from Breitbart)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

If they can’t outright ban natural gas appliances, they’ll price them out of existence.


35 posted on 02/16/2023 8:10:01 AM PST by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shadowlands1960
My nat gas bill was $118 last Jan; it was $173 this Jan.

Temp set at 72°.

York, PA. Columbia Gas Co.

36 posted on 02/16/2023 8:10:22 AM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: FormerFRLurker; unixfox
I live in California and the folks I know with solar say it actually does greatly reduce their utility bills. I can't say I'm opposed to people breaking free from a government monopoly to pursue self-sufficiency.

That's 100% accurate. But it's as long as the variables are right for you (i.e. live in the southern half of the U.S., a place on your land or house with no shade, etc.). And also don't sign up to turn over control of your system to the state. Way too many solar buyback agreements have that.

I've had solar almost 2 years and don't sell power to the grid. I've actually reconsidered it because here in Alabama they don't add extra regulations when you put power onto the grid like other states do.

37 posted on 02/16/2023 8:10:23 AM PST by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: blackdog

The note was for natural gas ... but your analysis as to gasoline still applies! No doubt a miracle of sorts.


38 posted on 02/16/2023 8:10:52 AM PST by glennaro (Never give up ... never give in ... never surrender ... and enjoy every minute of doing so.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: george76

While millions are being brought in,

targeted demographics are being squeezed/forced out.
ie. MRNA shots, endless pestilence, hyperinflation,environmental crisis,
Supply shortages, violent crime, etc.


39 posted on 02/16/2023 8:10:55 AM PST by Theophilus 7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Well, Californians who do you vote for come election time?


40 posted on 02/16/2023 8:11:13 AM PST by MAGA2017
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson