Reply #8: A headline in today's San Jose Mercury News: "Natural Gas Crisis Hits" [View All]

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Posted on Sat, Oct. 01, 2005

NATURAL GAS CRISIS HITS

STATE ELECTRICITY RATES ALSO LIKELY TO RISE

By Matthai Chakko Kuruvila

Mercury News

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/12791459.htm

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, delivering a delayed punch to Bay Area residents, will cause natural gas bills to spike 71 percent this month and remain unusually high throughout the winter, PG&E announced Friday.

The increase over October 2004 bills will take an additional $17.45 from the pocketbooks of the average household, already feeling the pain of rising gasoline prices. But PG&E warns that October rates are only a harbinger for what is to come this winter, when people turn up their furnaces.

Fuel bills in January for the average household are expected to jump by roughly $50, reflecting the 47 percent increase PG&E expects for that month, typically the costliest month of the year for those with gas furnaces.

``This is really a crisis,'' said PG&E spokesman Jason Alderman, who warned that customers should begin preparing for the colder months now. ``This should serve as a clarion wake-up call.''