Frosty temperatures exacerbate high energy costs

With single digit temperatures in the forecast and a double-digit increase in natural gas prices over the past year, Carson Valley residents are going to be spending a lot of money keeping warm this week.

According to the forecast, temperatures are predicted to drop down to 9 degrees in Minden early Monday morning.

During 2023, rates shot up 40.8 percent with increases of 17.8 percent for a single family dwelling on April 1 and 22.7 percent on July 1, but because it was warm, people didn’t notice the increase.

While the Southwest Gas filed for a 3.6 percent decrease on Oct. 1 and a .9 percent decrease that took effect on Jan. 1, their bills from this month will still reflect the prior rates.

According to Southwest Gas, the increases are based on the prices they paid for natural gas from their suppliers.

The company files for changes in rates based on those fluctuations before each quarter.

“This rate is updated to account for changes in the cost of natural gas the company purchased on behalf of customers, with no profit to the company, and uses a rolling 12-month average of natural gas costs,” according to a notice. “Which means you pay what we pay for the cost of natural gas. No more, no less.”

Increased natural gas costs affect more than heating bills.

In 2022, the price NV Energy paid for natural gas consistently increased by more than 70 percent, peaking in January 2023.

After spiking

Increased utility costs for heating translates to higher use of woodstoves and fireplaces during the winter, which contributes to the haze over Carson Valley.

Between that and prescribed burning, air quality typically drops on still nights. Early Friday morning, the air quality sensor at Ranchos Aspen Park recorded a 67 in the moderate range at 2 a.m. Minden peaked at 80 more than halfway to levels considered unhealthy for sensitive populations.

The Record-Courier has reached out to Southwest Gas.