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Is a gas dryer more efficient than an electric one?

Today's natural gas dryers are not only economical and efficient, but will also enhance the look and life span of your clothes. When a natural gas dryer turns off, its interior cools quickly, so no heat lingers to cause wrinkling and shrinkage. That's especially important if you can't remove the load right away. Most new natural gas dryers are equipped with heat sensors so the machine stops automatically when the job is done, so no energy is wasted. Natural gas drying can save up to 50 percent compared to electric drying and you can dry two loads of clothes for about the price of drying one load with electricity.

The annual cost of drying clothes using a cost of gas of $7.50 per Dekatherm is about $37.50 or about $3.13 per month. This would be based on drying about 42 loads a month. As you can see, using natural gas to dry your clothes only costs pennies a day.

How can I lower my gas bill?

Your monthly bill reflects how much gas you use. The less you use, the lower the bill will be. Below are some examples of what you can do to use less gas and lower your bill.

Keep Thermostat Adjustments to a Minimum
Frequent adjustments to your thermostat waste energy and money. For each degree you set your thermostat above 68 degrees, you'll increase your heating costs by 3 percent. At night, turn the thermostat down at least five degrees.

Check Furnace Filters Regularly
Check the filters in your furnace at least once a month. If they're dirty, you'll want to clean or replace them. Dirty filters make your system work harder to produce the comfort you've guided your thermostat to deliver. Clean filters also keep the air in your home cleaner and help limit the need for equipment maintenance.

Watch Your Water Use
Bathing, dish washing, and clothes washing are everyday routines. All of these activities cost more in winter because the water in your pipes is colder and takes longer to heat. To keep your water and water heating costs as low as possible:

Fix water leaks.
One drip a second adds up to about 75 gallons a month.
Insulate pipes where possible and practical to limit heat loss.
Operate dishwashers, clothes washers, and dryers only when fully loaded.
Don't use a water level or temperature higher than necessary for a load of clothes you're washing.

Make Seasonal Adjustments to Your Living Habits
Wear warmer clothing inside the house or dress in layers. Keep your head and neck warm.
Watch television or read in the warmest room in your home.
Move chairs away from windows or outside walls and close off rooms you're not using.
On sunny days, open window coverings to let the sun's heat help keep you warm. At night and on dark wintry days use window coverings to help insulate window areas.

Improve your insulation
This can save you more energy and money on home heating than anything. You can get complete insulation information from hardware stores, lumber stores, or insulation dealers. Consider installing storm windows and doors. You also can make temporary storm windows by tacking, stapling, or taping clear plastic to the inside or outside of windows and screen doors. For additional energy tips visit our virtual energy house.

I would like to learn more about how Oklahoma Natural Gas Company minimizes natural gas price volatility. Do you have information available?

Oklahoma Natural Gas Company Financial Hedging

Q. Does Oklahoma Natural Gas Company use financial hedging to reduce gas cost volatility?
A. Yes, in December 2007, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission approved a three year pilot program allowing Oklahoma Natural to spend up to $10 million annually to purchase call options covering a portion of its winter gas supply.

Q. How do call options work?
A. The Company pays a premium to set a price ceiling on a portion of its winter gas supply. The ceiling acts as a type of insurance, protecting customers against price spikes while allowing the Company to take advantage of market prices below the ceiling.

Q. How much do the call options cost?
A. The program costs each customer that buys gas from Oklahoma Natural approximatley $1 per month over the course of a year or $1.75 per month over the seven summer months (April through October) when the options are purchased.

What am I paying for natural gas?

The price you pay for the gas itself is reflected on your bill and represents what Oklahoma Natural Gas Company actually pays for the gas, which it obtains from a variety of sources through a competitive bidding process. You are charged per Dekatherm, which is a unit of measurement that represents the energy content of approximately 1,000 cubic feet (1 Mcf) of natural gas. Oklahoma Natural Gas Company does not realize a profit on the sale of gas; we are only allowed to earn a return on the service we provide and we do so at a rate regulated by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

The cost of gas fluctuates month to month, the price per dekatherm you see listed on your bill represents Oklahoma Natural Gas Company's average cost of gas sixty (60) days prior to your billing period. The cost is adjusted on a monthly basis.

Often customers are confused about the price of gas, especially the difference between “market” prices and the adjusted price paid by Oklahoma Natural Gas Company customers. Keep in mind that Oklahoma Natural Gas Company has two major objectives when it obtains gas on behalf of its customers, a reasonable price and security of supply, which means the gas is always there when you need it—even in times of peak demand. For that reason, Oklahoma Natural Gas Company acquires a portion of its supply at prices determined well in advance of delivery. The company also pays fees to suppliers to ensure access to the large volumes of gas our system requires during the winter months. So the price per dekatherm reflects a variety of contract prices and fees and is typically higher than the so-called “spot” price of gas.

What is the Temperature Adjustment Clause (TAC)?

I am sure you will agree one thing we all know about Oklahoma weather, is that it's unpredictable.

Natural gas usage is temperature sensitive. This means both Oklahoma Natural Gas Company and our customers can be affected by temperature extremes. The "Temperature Adjustment Clause" (TAC) allows Oklahoma Natural Gas Company to recover its costs of providing reliable gas service for its customers when the winter is warmer than normal and reduces the dollars collected from the customers when the winter is colder than normal. Thus, both the customer and the company are protected from financial effects brought on by abnormal temperatures. This process has been implemented since December 1995.

Normal temperature is the 10-year average for the period in which rates were established. The 10-year average is kept by the national weather service.

The Temperature Adjustment Clause (TAC) affects only the base rate portion of the bill. The Purchased Gas Cost will not be affected by the Temperature Adjustment Clause (TAC). The Temperature Adjustment Clause (TAC) uses a mechanism to adjust your bill to reflect normal weather conditions during the heating season of November through April each year.

Simply put, your bill is adjusted down when the weather is colder than normal. When the weather is warmer than normal your bill will be slightly higher. Temperatures vary each month, which cause the adjustment to be different each month. During the months of May through October, the Temperature Adjustment Clause (TAC) has no effect at all on your bill.

Oklahoma Natural Gas Company customers may opt out of the Temperature Adjustment Clause. If you do not wish to have your bills adjusted for the effects of weather, you may send us an email; call us at 1-800-664-5463; mail your request to PO Box 401, Oklahoma City, OK 73101; or make your request in person at your local office. Your request to opt out will go into effect with your next full billing period. You may use this option one time during the heating season.

Simply do nothing if you want to continue having your bills adjusted using the Temperature Adjustment Clause (TAC).

What is the current cost of gas?