Tucson, Ariz. – UniSource Energy Services customers should expect higher gas bills this winter due to the rising price of natural gas, which has more than doubled across the country in the past year.
UniSource expects residential gas bills will be 4 to 11 percent higher this winter with customers who use more gas at the higher end of that range. For residential customers with typical usage, this will result in a monthly bill increase ranging from about $2.50 to $8.50. The actual impact will vary based on weather and individual usage.
UniSource buys natural gas and passes those costs along without any markup. Much of the natural gas customers will use this winter was purchased when prices were lower, but recent price increases will have an impact on bills this winter.
This increase will be cushioned by UniSource’s natural gas rates, which are designed to help mitigate the impact of sudden changes in market prices. Customers are billed based on a rolling twelve-month average of actual gas costs, with limits on month-to-month increases.
UniSource offers many options to help customers facing financial challenges, including due date extensions and payment plans. We also offer low-income discounts and work with community partners to provide emergency bill payment assistance to qualifying customers. In addition to funds contributed by UniSource and our customers, these agencies can access federal energy assistance funds and emergency aid.
Federal funding for rent and utility assistance is available through the Arizona Department of Economic Security Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Tenants, landlords and property managers may apply for rental and utility relief. This program is limited to those who need rental assistance and may also be behind on utility bills. Funding can be requested for unpaid rent and utility bills up to 15 months in arrears and up to three months in advance. To learn more about eligibility and to apply, visit des.az.gov/ERAP.
More details about these and other assistance options are available at uesaz.com/payment-assistance or by calling our Customer Care team at 877-837-4968.
UniSource provides electric service to more than 98,000 customers in Mohave and Santa Cruz counties. It also provides natural gas service to more than 163,000 customers in northern and southern Arizona. For more information about UniSource, visit uesaz.com. UniSource and its parent company, UNS Energy, are subsidiaries of Fortis, Inc., which owns utilities that serve more than 3 million customers across Canada and in the United States and the Caribbean. To learn more, visit fortisinc.com.
News Media Contact:
Joseph Barrios
(520) 884-3725
jbarrios@uesaz.com
