PSE&G Lowers Natural Gas Bills Another 4.6 Percent; Offers Energy-saving Tips in Time for Colder Weather

NEWARK, N.J., Nov. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PSE&G announced today that it is lowering residential gas bills by an additional 4.6 percent, or nearly $8.53 per winter month for the typical residential customer. This latest action by the utility represents the eighth decrease in a row for residential customers, for a total of more than $614, or 35 percent, in savings since January, 2009. The price reduction takes effect December 1.

Lower market prices for gas, which are partially due to the availability of abundant and lower cost shale gas, are making it possible for PSE&G to pass these cost savings along to customers.

Under the new supply gas rates, a typical residential gas heating customer who uses 160 therms in a winter month, or 1,050 therms annually, will see a decrease in their annual bill of $56 or approximately 4.6 percent. This customer's annual bill will be reduced to $1,151.22 from $1,207.20 and their monthly winter bill will be $173.97.

A residential gas heating customer who uses 100 therms in a winter month, or 660 therms annually, will see a decrease in their annual bill of $35 or about 4.5 percent. This customer's annual bill will be reduced to $750.07 from $785.25. Their monthly winter bill will be $110.95.

"The eight decreases over three years, including the additional 4.6 percent now, will provide a much needed positive impact for our customers in these challenging times," said Joseph A. Forline, PSE&G vice president for customer operations.

The latest reduction comes as temperatures are dropping and customers try to keep their winter heating bills affordable. In addition to the price decrease, the utility offers suggestions for steps customers can take to reduce their costs even further.  

• Check for sufficient water levels in the sight glass for hot water and steam heating systems to ensure maximum efficiency. Clean or replace the furnace filter on hot air heating systems.
  
  
• Lower your thermostat by just one degree, which may reduce your heating bill by up to 3 percent. Save even more by lowering your thermostat 2 degrees during the day and 5 to 10 degrees at bedtime if health conditions permit.
  
  
• Close dampers in fireplaces you don't use.

• Purchase and wrap an insulation blanket around the tank of your hot water heater.  Wrap the outlet pipe with inexpensive flexible insulating tubing to reduce the time it takes for hot water to reach your shower.  Set your hot water heater to no more than 120 degrees.

• Move furniture and drapes away from heating registers, radiators, and baseboard element covers.  Open any register or baseboard dampers.

• Cover window air conditioners to reduce drafts. Install insulated or lined drapes on your windows. 

• Use weather stripping or one-sided sticky tape to seal up cracks and prevent drafts in windows and doorframes. Caulk smaller gaps. Beneath doors, install draft guards available at hardware stores.   

• Use a shrink film insulation kit on really drafty windows or make one yourself from plastic sheeting and double-faced tape.

• Seal wall switches and electrical outlets with small foam gaskets available at home improvement centers and hardware stores. Remove the cover plate, insert the gasket, and screw the cover plate back in place.   

• If you have a door leading outside from your basement, hang a full-size sheet of plastic from the door frame to keep heat from escaping. Seal windows in the basement with plastic to create a barrier against the cold. (Make sure you allow enough air supply to feed your fuel-burning appliances safely.)

• Keep your garage door closed if the garage is attached to the house.      

• If your budget permits, install (or have installed) a programmable thermostat that you can set to automatically lower room temperatures when rooms are not in use and also at bedtime if health conditions permit. 

• Visit PSE&G's Home Energy Toolkit at www.pseg.com/toolkit. You can calculate the energy efficiency of your home and find out how to save energy and money on appliances and heating systems.

Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is New Jersey's oldest and largest regulated gas and electric delivery utility, serving nearly three-quarters of the state's population.  PSE&G is the winner of the ReliabilityOne Award for superior electric system reliability.  PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a diversified energy company (www.pseg.com). Want to know what's new at PSEG? Go to www.pseg.com/getnews and sign up to have our press releases sent right to your inbox.

SOURCE Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G)