Receiving a high natural gas bill from Atlanta Gas Light during the summer can be confusing. For most households, natural gas usage plummets in warmer months because the primary consumer—your furnace—is dormant. If you've noticed an unexpected increase in your summer gas bill, it's a signal to investigate where that extra energy is being used.
While it's an uncommon issue, a summer bill spike isn't impossible. Year-round gas appliances like your water heater, clothes dryer, and stove are the likely culprits. This guide will walk you through the potential reasons for a higher-than-normal summer bill and help you determine if the cause is simple overuse, a faulty appliance, or a billing error.
The Role of Hot Water in Summer Gas Use
Your natural gas water heater is one of the biggest, most consistent gas consumers in your home, operating 365 days a year. An increase in hot water usage is the most common reason for a higher summer gas bill. Consider these factors:
- More Laundry: Summer activities can often mean more loads of laundry, each using hot water.
- Increased Showers: Having kids home from school or hosting summer guests can significantly increase the number of daily showers.
- Dishwashing: More meals at home can also lead to running the dishwasher more frequently.
While each use seems small, the cumulative effect can lead to a noticeable rise in your gas consumption, directly impacting your bill.
Appliance Usage and Potential Faults
Beyond hot water, other gas-powered appliances contribute to your baseline usage. A natural gas clothes dryer, for instance, uses gas for heat. If your laundry volume has increased, so has your dryer's gas consumption. Similarly, gas stoves and ovens used for cooking also add to the total.
It's also important to consider the health of your appliances. A malfunctioning water heater with a faulty thermostat might heat water to an unnecessarily high temperature or run more often than needed. If you suspect an appliance issue, it may be wise to have it inspected by a qualified technician. For more general concerns, it can be helpful to understand how billing works to put your usage in context.
Billing Discrepancies and Estimated Reads
Sometimes the issue isn't your usage but how it was billed. Atlanta Gas Light may sometimes use an estimated meter read instead of an actual one. If the previous month's estimate was too low, your current bill might be higher to "catch up" to your actual usage.
Review your bill to see if it was based on an "Actual" or "Estimated" reading. If you believe there's an error or that the estimate is wildly inaccurate, you have the right to question it. Understanding if your bill is correct is a crucial step in managing your utility costs.
How to Audit Your Summer Gas Usage
To get to the bottom of a high summer bill, perform a simple audit. First, compare your current bill with the same period from last year to confirm the spike is unusual. Next, take note of your gas meter reading at the beginning and end of a 24-hour period with typical usage. Finally, check the temperature setting on your water heater—the Department of Energy recommends a setting of 120°F for most households to save energy. These steps can help you identify the source of the increase and take corrective action.