| TRUE | if the statement agrees with the information |
| FALSE | if the statement contradicts the information |
| NOT GIVEN | if there is no information on this |
Your Gas Bill
How can I get a duplicate bill or information on my latest bill?
The easiest way to view or print a copy of your most recent or past bill is to register or log on to My Account. You can receive, view and pay your bill -- all online.
When you log on to My Account, go to View My Bill, then Bill History.
There you can view and print out your account history--up to 25 months. Just click on the bill you'd like to see. Try it now.
Or, if you'd prefer, you can call our automated service line 24 hours a day, at 1-800-772-5050*.
*Note, requests made through our phone line will take approximately 3-5 working days to complete. Billing information can only be sent to the mailing address on record.
Billing Terms
§ BTU: British Thermal Unit: One BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. A more practical definition would be: how much gas an appliance will use to produce heat or cooling. As a result, gas appliances are sized by a BTU rating. 100,000 BTU's equal 1 therm. For example, a 400,000 BTU heater, when in use, would use 4 therms of gas per hour. A 30,000 BTU range would use .3 therms per hour of use.
§ CCF: Hundred of Cubic Feet: Method used for gas measurement. The quantity of gas at a temperature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of 14.73 pounds per square inch makes up one cubic foot.
§ Billing Factor: An adjuster used to convert CCF into therms. It adjusts the amount of gas used to reflect the heat value of the gas at a given altitude. The heating value can vary from month to month; therefore, the billing factor is not always the same.
§ Therm: A therm is approximately 100,000 BTUs. It is a standard unit of measurement. CCFs are converted to therms for purposes of billing.
Natural Gas Conversions
§ 1 cubic foot = 1050 Btu § Therm = 100,000 Btu § Ccf = 100 cubic foot, or 1 therm § Mcf = 1000 cubic feet = 10.20 therms § MMcf = 1 million cubic feet § Bcf = 1 billion cubic feet § Decatherm (Dth) = 10 therms = 1 million Btu § Mmbtu = 1 million btu = 10 therms
About gas rates and how bills are calculated Natural gas rates are made up of two primary charges:
§ Gas delivery service, which The Gas Company provides - the "delivery" (or "transmission") charge; and,
§ The cost of the natural gas itself -- which is reflected in the "procurement" charge.
Many people believe that The Gas Company produces natural gas, but we don't. For our residential and smaller business customers, we buy natural gas from producers and marketers at the best possible prices on the open market.
The wholesale gas prices we pay are based on market supply and demand. They're not marked up by The Gas Company, and are shown on your monthly bill as the "commodity charge."
The Gas Company's delivery service charge covers the costs of transporting natural gas through our pipeline system. It is approved annually by the Public Utilities Commission and is not impacted by the price of natural gas.
Monthly Gas rates vary based on monthly gas prices
Since 1997, the cost of natural gas that customers pay in their rates is based on a forecasted monthly price instead of a forecasted annual price. This allows rates to more closely follow current natural gas market prices.
With monthly pricing, gas rates are based upon a 30-day forecast of natural gas market prices. This gives customers a better picture of the current price of natural gas, and means they no longer have to wait for annual adjustments to their bills to make up for differences between the 12-month forecast price and the actual price paid by The Gas Company on a monthly basis.
Does The Gas Company benefit from higher gas prices?
We do not produce natural gas; energy production companies produce natural gas. The Gas Company just delivers natural gas to its customers.
Baseline therm allowance
As determined by the Public Utilities Commission, under the direction of the State Legislature, "baseline therm allowances" are the amounts of natural gas needed to meet the minimum basic needs of the average home. The Gas Company is required to bill these "baseline" amounts at its lowest residential rates. The goal of these "baseline" amounts is to encourage efficient use of natural gas.
Charges on Your Bill from a Third Party
For bill questions and charges on your gas bill from third-party vendors -¬§ Commerce Energy (formerly ACN) 1-877-226-3649 § HomeServe 1-888-302-0137
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Question Focus: Time frame for phone requests
Correct Answer: TRUE
Why this is correct: A working week is usually 5 working days. The passage clearly says phone requests take 3-5 working days, so this fits within one working week.
Passage Reference: Or, if you'd prefer, you can call our automated service line 24 hours a day, at 1-800-772-5050*. *Note, requests made through our phone line will take approximately 3-5 working days to complete.
Common Mistake: Some students choose NOT GIVEN because they do not connect 3-5 working days with a working week. This is a Synonym match trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: '3-5 working days' = Statement: 'within a working week'
Tips: When you see numbers, translate them into everyday meaning before deciding.
Key Vocabulary:
- approximately = about
- processed = completed
Question Focus: Measurement temperature for CCF
Correct Answer: FALSE
Passage Reference: § CCF: Hundred of Cubic Feet: Method used for gas measurement. The quantity of gas at a temperature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of 14.73 pounds per square inch makes up one cubic foot.
Why this is correct: The passage says sixty degrees Fahrenheit, not Celsius. Celsius and Fahrenheit are different temperature systems, so the statement is wrong.
Common Mistake: Students sometimes miss the word Fahrenheit and assume C means the same. This is a Contradiction trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'sixty degrees Fahrenheit' = Statement: '60 degrees C'
Tips: Always check units like C or F carefully. IELTS often tests this detail.
Key Vocabulary:
- temperature = how hot or cold
- calculated = measured
Question Focus: Direction of conversion
Correct Answer: FALSE
Passage Reference: § Therm: A therm is approximately 100,000 BTUs. It is a standard unit of measurement. CCFs are converted to therms for purposes of billing.
Why this is correct: The passage clearly says CCFs are converted to therms, not the other way around. The statement reverses this process.
Common Mistake: Many students read too fast and miss the direction of conversion. This is a Reverse meaning trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'CCFs are converted to therms' = Statement: 'Therms are converted to CCFs'
Tips: For TRUE or FALSE, always check which thing changes into which.
Key Vocabulary:
- converted = changed
- purposes = reasons
Question Focus: Gas pricing and discounts
Correct Answer: FALSE
Passage Reference: The wholesale gas prices we pay are based on market supply and demand. They're not marked up by The Gas Company, and are shown on your monthly bill as the "commodity charge."
Why this is correct: The passage says prices are based on market supply and demand and are not marked up. There is no mention of any discount, so the idea of a discount is wrong.
Common Mistake: Students assume companies get special prices, but the passage says the opposite. This is a Contradiction trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'not marked up' = Statement: 'receives a discount'
Tips: Do not add your own business knowledge. Stick only to what the passage says.
Key Vocabulary:
- wholesale = sold in large amounts
- marked up = increased in price
Question Focus: Change in pricing system since 1997
Correct Answer: TRUE
Passage Reference: Since 1997, the cost of natural gas that customers pay in their rates is based on a forecasted monthly price instead of a forecasted annual price. This gives customers a better picture of the current price of natural gas, and means they no longer have to wait for annual adjustments to their bills to make up for differences between the 12-month forecast price and the actual price paid by The Gas Company on a monthly basis.
Why this is correct: The passage directly says customers no longer have to wait for annual adjustments since 1997. This exactly matches the statement.
Common Mistake: Some students overthink and choose FALSE, but this is a direct match. This is a clear Synonym match.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'no longer have to wait for annual adjustments' = Statement: 'have not had to wait for annual adjustments'
Tips: When you see exact matching meaning, trust it and move on.
Key Vocabulary:
- forecasted = predicted
- adjustments = changes
Question Focus: Delivery speed comparison over time
Correct Answer: NOT GIVEN
Passage Reference: The Gas Company's delivery service charge covers the costs of transporting natural gas through our pipeline system. It is approved annually by the Public Utilities Commission and is not impacted by the price of natural gas.
Why this is correct: The passage talks about delivery service charges, not delivery speed. The passage does not discuss whether delivery time is faster now or before 1997.
Common Mistake: Students confuse pricing changes with delivery performance. This is a Not Given trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'delivery service charge covers the costs of transporting natural gas' = Statement: 'delivery time is quicker now'
Tips: If speed or comparison is not mentioned, do not guess. Choose NOT GIVEN.
Key Vocabulary:
- delivery = supplying gas
- prior = before
Question Focus: Third-party services
Correct Answer: FALSE
Passage Reference: Charges on Your Bill from a Third Party For bill questions and charges on your gas bill from third-party vendors -¬§ Commerce Energy (formerly ACN) 1-877-226-3649 § HomeServe 1-888-302-0137
Why this is correct: HomeServe is listed under Charges on Your Bill from a Third Party, which means it is not provided by The Gas Company.
Common Mistake: Students see the name and assume it belongs to the Gas Company. This is a Context shift trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'third-party vendors' = Statement: 'service provided by the Gas Company'
Tips: Headings are important. Always read them to understand context.
Key Vocabulary:
- third party = separate company
- vendor = seller
General Tips:
- TFNG statements follow passage order - use the previous answer's location to find the next one.
- If you cannot decide between FALSE and NOT GIVEN, ask: does the passage clearly say the opposite. If not, choose NOT GIVEN.
- Pay close attention to units, numbers, and direction words like from and to.
- Do not use your own knowledge about gas companies. Only use the passage.
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