SOME FACT ABOUT NATURAL GAS RATES

• Missouri Gas Utility, Inc. must purchase natural gas to heat your home from a wholesale supplier. Missouri companies do not own natural gas fields.
• What the wholesale supplier charges Missouri Gas Utility, Inc. is determined in an unregulated market. Congress deregulated this over a decade ago. Now prices are determined in an open, competitive based market.
• Wholesale prices are subject to wide variations depending on a number of factors including supply, demand and weather. Colder than normal weather for long periods tends to drive natural gas prices upward.
• The role of the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) is limited when it comes to rate changes associated with the actual cost of natural gas. The Commission does not regulate wholesale supplier rates.
• Your local natural gas company must make a filing with the Public Service Commission in order to increase or decrease your natural gas rates to reflect wholesale supplier price changes.
• When filing is made by a local natural gas company, the PSC Staff reviews it to:
  • Ensure that is is accurate.
  • Ensure it is in compliance with tariffs the Company has on file with the PSC.
  • Ensure it generally reflects current market conditions.
  • Ensure that the proposed change in rates considers many factors like storage or fixed price contracts.
  • Ensure that the Company purchased gas supplies for their customers prudently.
  • Did the Company make reasonable decisions given the facts and circumstances at the time purchase decision were made?
• The Commission also conducts an annual audit of the Company's wholesale supplier natural gas costs. This is done to ensure what the Company paid to wholesale suppliers is, in fact, what it received from its customers.
• In addition, the Commission continues to encourage local natural gas companies to consider purchasing strategies that provide reliable gas supplies that are priced as low as reasonably achievable and ar not overly volatile. Purchasing strategies typically consider Long and Short Term Contracts, Fixed Price Contracts and Storage of gas.

A FEW REMINDERS ABOUT NATURAL GAS SAFETY:

If you should smell gas outside:

• CALL MISSOURI GAS UTILITY, INC. IMMEDIATELY AND REPORT IT AT 800-927-0787.

If you should smell gas inside:

• DO NOT OPERATE ELECTRICAL SWITCHES OR THE PHONE! DO NOT SMOKE! DO NOT USE LIGHTERS, MATCHES OR ANY OTHER OPEN FLAME TO TRY TO FIND THE LEAK!
• EVACUATE THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY!
• GO TO A NEIGHBOR'S AND CALL US IMMEDIATELY - 24 HOURS A DAY - 7 DAYS A WEEK AT 800-927-0787.

If you plan on doing ANY digging:

• BEFORE YOU DIG, CALL 800-344-7483 48 HOURS BEFORE YOU START TO DIG. We will come out and locate the gas lines at no charge to you.

If you are dissatisfied with your service a Missouri Gas Utility, Inc. representative will be happy to work with you on any problems you have with our company. Call 800-927-0787 for assistance or visit our website at www.missourigasutility.com. You may also contact the Missouri Public Service Commission at 800-392-4211 or visit their website at www.psc.mo.gov.

To be set up on automatic payment or budget bill please call 800-927-0787 for customer service. You can also view and pay your bill online at www.missourigasutility.com.

*** November through March a door hanger will be placed previous to the disconnection date and your account will be charged additonal fees. If a technician needs to go to your home for delinquency your account will be charged additional fees.*** It may be necessary to notify all interested parties regarding delinquency status.

When you provide a check as payment, you are authorizing Missouri Gas Utility, Inc. to use the information from your check to make a one-time electronic funds transfer from your account or to process the payment as a check transaction. When Missouri Gas Utility, Inc. uses information from your check to make an electronic funds transfer, funds may be withdrawn from your account as soon as the same day your payment is received, and you will not receive your check back from your financial institution.

NEED HELP PAYING YOUR UTILITY BILLS?

Programs like the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) can assist low-income Missourians with heating bills during December, January, February and March. ECIP assists low-income customers who have their gas or electric service discontinued for non-payment or has received a notice of discontinuance. Contact Missouri Gas Utility, Inc at 800-927-0787, Green Hills 660-663-3028, your local Community Action Agency about LIHEAP and ECIP for assistance or the following website www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/liheap.htm.