Blog

Aug 29, 2023

Homeowners hot under the collar over higher heating bills

By KCAL-News Staff February 1, 2023 / 10:16 AM

By KCAL-News Staff

February 1, 2023 / 10:16 AM / KCAL News

From a hundred dollars a month, to $400 -- local homeowners are hot under the collar over a recent spike in their gas bills. Joy Benedict has the story.

A Leimert Park street lined with perfectly manicured lawns and 1940s houses has homeowners inside heated up.

Linda Lindsey has never had a problem with her utilities before. But now, using her two heaters, gas dryer and gas stove, her gas bill is soaring.

"How am I supposed to live and provide food? Eggs already seven dollars -- what are we supposed to do?" said Lindsey.

And she's not the only one, as neighbors handed over their bills too. In two months another woman's gas bill climbed from $80 to $408.

"I turn down the thermostat now. I don't turn it on," said Lindsey. "It's too much money. I can't afford it."

The Southern California Gas Company says the soaring bills are due to a "perfect storm" of lack of supply and unseasonably chilly temperatures.

"We have our utility not being prepared with enough natural gas, so we have the spot market in the West being extraordinarily expensive, more expensive than anyone's ever seen it," said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog.

Court says SoCal Gas should have been more prepared.

"If you're Southern California Gas, you buy it when it's cheap in summer, transport it when it's cheap in summer, store it -- because they have plenty of storage -- and then you don't have to buy for winter. It's like you save your acorns up for winter," said Court. "But something went wrong."

But there are some things you can do right now to stop burning money:

As for paying the bill?

"I am going to pay it in full when I get my check on the first," said Linda Lindsey.

But know that you don't have to: SoCal Gas is offering payment plans to help those in a bind. Because making sure you are safe and warm this winter is what matters most.

The KCAL News Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on KCALNews.com and CBSLA.com.

First published on February 1, 2023 / 10:16 AM

© 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.