Black Hills Energy Announces Decline in Natural Gas Prices
Woodland Park and Lower Ute Pass customers have seen a 12 percent drop
Black Hills Energy Community Affairs
Are you ready for some positive economic news for a change? Black Hills Energy, which serves many communities in Colorado and much of Teller County, is pleased to announce that effective February 1, natural gas costs will decrease.
We understand the current economic pressures facing the communities we serve and want to focus on providing our customers with the lowest possible bills. So when the price of natural gas drops — as it did recently — Black Hills Energy acts as quickly as possible to pass those savings on to you.
Depending on where you live in Colorado, starting February 1st, your bill will decrease between $0.04 and $0.14 per year, or between about 3% and 12% per month table below to determine the exact amount by which natural gas will decrease in your area. The price of natural gas itself is known as a ‘pass-through’ cost, which means we don’t make any money from it and our customers pay market prices and nothing more.
Black Hills Energy recognizes that for some of our customers this may not be enough to offset budget pressures. That’s why we offer a variety of options if you need help with your billing, including advanced billing arrangements, budget billing, and payment assistance. Visit blackhillsenergy.com/assistance-programs for more information.
At Black Hills Energy we are focused on providing safe and reliable energy that enables our customers to live their lives comfortably. Our associates are your neighbors, and we are committed to serving our communities now and for decades to come.
frequently asked Questions
Why are energy bills so much higher this winter?
cost of natural gas and weather-related use are the main reasons for the increased costs that our customers are seeing this winter.
- Natural gas: Natural gas prices have increased significantly over the past year – more than – doubling and even tripling from the historically low prices we have become accustomed to over the last 8-10 years. Black Hills Energy customers in Colorado see natural gas costs on their monthly bills via an annual gas cost adjustment, but this can be adjusted downward throughout the year if lower market prices allow.
- Customer usage: Additionally, Colorado has experienced more winter weather and colder temperatures compared to last winter. When outside temperatures are colder, we use more energy to keep our homes and businesses warmer – even when the thermostat is set to the same temperature.
If my thermostat is constantly set at 68 degrees, how could my consumption be high?
The weather plays a major role in natural gas consumption – the greater the difference between inside and outside temperature, the more energy a heater uses.
What can customers do to protect themselves against higher natural gas costs?
It’s not every day that companies encourage customers to buy less of what they sell, but that’s exactly what Black Hills Energy is doing this winter. We are stepping up our efforts to communicate with customers and provide tips on how they can use less energy in their homes and save money.
Some of the things you can do today to reduce your energy use are to let your dishes air dry in the dishwasher, pay close attention to your thermostat and the outside temperature, and make sure your insulation is up to par. Go to blackhillsenergy.com/winter-ready and blackhillsenergy.com/teamready for even more conservation tips.
The lower rates in the table below reflect changes approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission on January 25:
| GCA region | Base Tariff Zone | Existing average monthly bill | New average monthly bill | Monthly change | Percent Change | Average usage |
| Central GCA region Communities in Bent, Crowley and Otero counties including the towns of Fowler, La Junta, Las Animas, Rocky Ford and Swink |
2 | $96.81 | $87.52 | ($9.29) | -9.60% | 66 |
| Central GCA region Castle Rock south of Monument, Fountain, Woodland Park, east of Kiowa, Limon, and Burlington and the surrounding areas of those communities |
3 | $107.53 | $94.72 | ($12.81) | -11.91% | 91 |
| North/Southwest GCA region Parishes in Larimer and Weld Counties, including the cities of Dacono, Erie, Firestone, Frederick, and Wellington |
1 | $127.82 | $124.08 | ($3.74) | -2.93% | 86 |
| North/Southwest GCA region Communities in Cheyenne, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld, Archuleta, La Plata, Mineral and Yuma counties including the cities of Akron, Wray Pagosa Springs, Bayfield and Yuma |
2 | $109.92 | $107.03 | ($2.89) | -2.63% | 66 |
| Western Slope – Non-memory GCA region Communities in Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Montrose, Ouray, Pitkin and San Miguel counties including the cities of Delta, Glenwood Springs, Hotchkiss, Montrose, Olathe, Paonia and Telluride |
1 | $135.53 | $129.04 | ($6.49) | -4.79% | 86 |
| Western Slope – With memory GCA region Communities in Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties, including the cities of Aspen, Carbondale and Eagle |
1 | $138.94 | $133.48 | ($5.46) | -3.93% | 86 |
