Warm Weather Affecting Utility Companies
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It may still be winter on the calendar, but it definitely does not feel like it. Temperatures have been unusually warmer for this winter and that is impacting both utility companies and your gas bill. Most utility companies are taking a big financial hit because of the warmer temperatures this winter, but they said on the bright side, even though they are losing money, at least their customers are happy. It is days like Tuesday where Rex Herndon can leave the doors open to his floral shop, and still save money too. “About the highest bill we’ve had for gas, water, sewer is like $120, and that’s about half of what it usually runs, so we’ve been real happy all winter,” Herndon said. And there have been plenty of days like Tuesday this winter where residents do not have to run their air conditioner or heater. While residents enjoy the lower bills, it is not all savings for utility companies. “We’re selling a considerable less amount of gas than we had this time last year. For the fiscal year, we’re a million plus cubic feet under what we sold last year, which it’s made a difference in our industry,” said Michael Harper, General Manager for Lexington Utilities. By the end of January, revenue was down $18,000 compared to last year. But Harper said it could be worse. “Since we’ve sold less, we’ve had to purchase less and with the gas that we’re buying now, it’s cheaper than what we were buying this time last year,” he said. According to Harper, they will not have to make any changes in price due to the loss, because natural gas rates are always changing, just like regular gas. Even though they are losing money, Harper said overall they are pleased customers, like Herndon, can keep more of theirs. “Our girls in the office that take up the payments, their winter’s been a lot more pleasant this year than last year.” Harper told 7 Eyewitness News that even though their industry is still down a little bit, it has picked up some since last year.
