My letter of dissatisfaction to the local natural gas provider and the state PSC

[Brewman_Jax]

We can lock in the natural gas rates for a 6- or 12-month interval so the winter's bills won't be all over the place. Normally, the natural gas prices are lowest in late summer, so I locked in the rate ($1.309/therm). The local TV consumer adviser has a few reports on the change of rates during October ($1.049/therm) and to lock in your rates if you haven't done so. That's a 20% change in value. I called the customer service number to change my plan and update to the new rate. There's a $50 cancellation fee to change plans. I asked if I was one of a few to change and I was told that I was one of many.

In addition, I told them that to keep the cancellation fee was wrong in the face of such a great change in market value. I just sent a letter of dissatisfation to the natural gas company and the state PSC.

I hope that I'm one of many.

[HereSince1628]

1. Welcome to the free market where bucaneers abound.

I think they should at least give you a rebate if you lock in a price above what turns out to be the functional rate. But I'll get hung from a stuns'l bone for saying that, matey.

[Brewman_Jax]

5. Arrgh, matey!

who says a free market is really free?

[napi21]

2. I sympathize with you, and I HOPE the PUC will try to do something to change

this, but I'm guessing theyw ill look at this similarly to the was people play the stock market with puts & calls. When you lock in a rate, you are betting the price will go up. Unfortunately, sometimes you guess wrong.

I check natural gas rates each month since most companies adjust them near the beginning of each month. since I haven't changed companies in several years, I am eliigible to switch to another if a good deal comes along. So far, none have. When I find one that is a little lower per therm, they have a higher per month fee, or some other hidden BS.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

3. no offense intended...but it will do nothing

they offer these plans as a bet. You roll the dice and take your chances. Locking in a rate sounds great...until the market declines.

sP

[Brewman_Jax]

7. You're probably right

but the company shouldn't get paid BOTH ways when the rates go up (higher prices) or when the rates go down (cancellation fees). That's not a free market, that's a pirate market.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

8. they don't get paid both ways

when you lock in your rate you LOCK in your rate...right? I think if the price of natural gas goes through the roof this winter (which doesn't look likely now) you will make out like a bandit cause you will be locked in below the going rate. How do you mean, "get paid both ways" ? I think I am misunderstanding something.

sP

[Brewman_Jax]

9. Referencing the natural gas company

once you've locked your price at the market rate, normally in the summer when prices are lowest, the prices normally go up as winter approaches and demand goes up. Didn't happen this time, prices went down in the fall. Either you're stuck at the old higher rate, or you have to call the natural gas company, cancel your old contract, pay the $50 cancellation fee, and get a 6-month winter contract at the new lower price. Like the service rep said when I called to get the new lower rate, I was far from the only one to do this.

That's what I meant when I said that the natural gas company gets paid both ways.

[RubyDuby in GA]

4. Remember to vote today for David Burgess!

His asshat Republican opponent is running an ad saying how David Burgess singlehandedly let natural gas prices rise 51% in the last few years. I guess he forgot his asshole Republican cronies, i.e. Sonny Perdue, is the one who deregulated the natural gas industry here in GA and let the gas companies charge people $800 a month for natural gas.

TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO GO VOTE TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS HUGH!!!!!!11111
I'M SERIES!!!!!1111111

VOTE OR WE'RE ALL SCREWN!!!!!!!!11111111

:)

[Brewman_Jax]

6. Thanks for the reminder

I have to check my polling place on the way back home.