At home in early autumn, Sonia Hicks doesn’t have much need for gas.
The retired physiotherapist lives in Pinjarra, about an hour south of Perth, and her gas bills at this time of the year are low.
“Our last bill was $2 for the use of gas, which is basically just for heating saucepans of food,” Ms Hicks says.
“It’s about $2 and the rest is $40, which is made up for their administrative costs.”
While Ms Hicks’s gas bills are low in March and April, it’s a different story come winter time.
Along with her husband, Derrick, she relies heavily on a gas heater for warmth during the colder months.
And when they arrive, the bills can quickly add up — so much so that her annual costs are anywhere up to $700.
Is that for both gas and electricity? Because the article is only referencing natural gas.
Our natural gas bill in Texas has been creeping up and up despite reducing our consumption by replacing several gas appliances with electric. The gas companies see the writing on the wall and are moving to a regressive flat fee-based structure because their demand is cratering.
Next up, I want an induction stove
I recommend a countertop portable induction burner if you’re not ready to get a whole new stove yet. It worked out very well for me, but I generally only need one burner and my favorite pans are induction-friendly.