How to read my gas bill

UES' gas rates reflect the cost of providing safe, reliable service to our customers. They also reflect the complexity of that task, with fixed fees, usage-based charges and surcharges that can be difficult to understand. The following summary offers explanations for the terms you'll find on your monthly bill, including links to details posted elsewhere on this website.

Your UES Gas Bill

This section provides your account number, an overview of your previous and current charges, including recent payments received and any bill adjustments such as corrections, refunds and fees.

If you participate in our Warm Spirit program to help limited-income customers pay their energy bills, your contribution will display here.

The total amount due is in white against a green bar so that it stands out prominently.

Service Information

Bill messages will appear in this section in italics. Immediately underneath this message in a light green box, you will see your service address, your service number (Service No.), the billing dates and the current charges.

Billed Therm Usage

View up to 24 months of history in a graph that compares your most recent 12 months of usage (in dark green) to the previous 12 months (in light green). All usage is in therms, a measurement of the energy provided by the natural gas that was used. The dates your meter was read appear beneath the graph, with the date used for your current bill displayed in blue.

Billing Period Comparison

This chart compares information from this billing period to the previous billing period as well as to the corresponding billing period from the previous year.

Average Daily Cost

Your average daily energy cost is highlighted in this blue circle. This figure is based on the current charges divided by the number of days in the billing cycle. Use this feature to compare your energy costs to other daily expenses.

Natural Gas Safety

In this green box, learn how to recognize the signs of a gas leak and who to contact in case of an emergency.

Payment Stub

Your payment stub contains your account number, the payment due date and the total amount due. Space is available to write in your payment amount and an optional contribution for Warm Spirit, a program that provides energy bill payment assistance to limited-income customers.

The stub also contains the address where you should send your payment.

Charges

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) sets rates that divide responsibility for these costs among different types of customers – including residential, commercial and industrial users – based on typical consumption patterns. Our natural gas rates are designed to recover the appropriate portion of these costs from each customer group through a combination of fixed fees and usage-based charges.

Delivery Services

The charges listed in this section of your bill reflect the cost of delivering natural gas to customers. These charges cover the cost of pipelines, regulator stations, monitoring equipment and other infrastructure; employees and contractors who install, operate and maintain that equipment; and other necessary business expenses.

Gas Supply Charges

Gas supply charges recover the cost of natural gas purchased on behalf of customers. This usage-based charge is updated monthly through Purchased Gas Adjustor (PGA) credits and charges that reflect changes in natural gas prices.

Energy Efficiency Charge

The Lost Fixed Cost Recovery (LFCR) charge partly offsets the revenue UES loses when customers reduce their bills through energy efficiency programs. Without the charge, UES would be unable to recover the full cost of improvements to our natural gas distribution system that serves all customers, regardless of usage.

Taxes and Assessments

The charges on your bill are subject to government taxes and fees. UES forwards all taxes and fees to the appropriate authorities.

Regulatory and Meter Information

Regulatory and rate-specific messages will be highlighted in blue above the meter section. Underneath this message, you will find the Meter Information section, which displays:

Program Promotions

This section promotes the awareness of programs and services that may interest you.

Account Details

In a green box in the upper right corner, Account Details provides information about program enrollment. The word “Available” will appear if you are not participating in a program but could enroll.

Contact Us and Ways to Pay

This section of your bill includes contact information for UES and the ACC, ways you can report a power outage and the multiple ways that you can pay your bill.

UniSource Energy Services:
Learn About Your New Gas Bill

Use this interactive PDF to learn about your residential gas bill.
 
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Tax Adjustment Credit

UES natural gas customers will receive bill credits and other benefits through 2020 as a result of changes in federal corporate income tax rates.

Learn more

PGA

The Purchased Gas Adjustor, or PGA, is a usage-based credit or charge that reflects changes in the costs of natural gas. UES passes along these costs without any markup and earns no profit through the PGA.

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DSM Surcharge

The Demand Side Management, or DSM, charge is a monthly, usage-based charge established by the Arizona Corporation Commission to pay for cost-effective energy efficiency programs.

Learn more

LFCR Charge

The Lost Fixed Cost Recovery, or LFCR, surcharge helps ensure that energy efficiency and renewable power projects don't compromise UES' ability to maintain safe, reliable service. Natural gas and electric customers pay separate LFCR charges.

Learn more

Old Bill

Have a question about the previous version of our bill? Click through to see a summary of sections and terms found on the old bill.

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