Extreme Cold Impacts Natural Gas Market Prices
January 22, 2026
CFU is prepared for the frigid temperatures forecasted this weekend.
Our crews are ready to respond to any outages or emergencies. We also have a close eye on natural gas and electric markets.
We want to let customers know that natural gas market prices will be high over the next few days. High market prices are expected to have an impact on utility bills.
Like many utilities, CFU has a Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) on utility bills that reflects the market price of gas. That charge fluctuates up and down based on the wholesale price CFU pays for the gas it provides to customers.
To keep prices as steady as possible, CFU utilizes contracts to mitigate market fluctuations. We’ve locked in a low monthly price for a significant portion of the gas we buy to supply to the community.
Some gas cannot be locked in at a low price. On really cold days, our customers use twice as much natural gas as they do on an average winter day. That’s because many furnaces must run 100% of the time when it’s bitter cold to keep homes at a comfortable temperature.
The extra gas customers use on really cold days is purchased on a daily market. Daily market prices will be higher this week because demand is higher. This affects utilities across the country.
Utility bill impacts will vary by customer usage, winter temperatures and market conditions. Small behavioral changes throughout the year and energy efficient home upgrades can help you save money on your natural gas bill.
More Information
Understanding Your Natural Gas Bill
Natural gas rates are made up of CFU's base rates (the service charge and the delivery charge) and a non-base rate which is the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA).
Higher market costs do not affect CFU’s base rates, which include infrastructure and administrative costs.
CFU Natural Gas Base Rate
Basic Service Charge - The basic service charge covers CFU’s costs like meter reading, customer services, billing, service calls and meter maintenance.
Delivery Charge - The delivery charge is per thousand cubic feet (MCF) of gas used and covers the cost of CFU’s natural gas distribution system and delivering gas to homes.
Non-Base Rate
Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) - The non-base rate portion of your natural gas bill is the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) and is a pass-through charge for the cost of gas. CFU does not mark up what we pay for natural gas. If gas market costs go up or down, so does the PGA.
Energy Savings Tips
Follow the tips below to help keep your home warm and save energy this winter.
- Use a programmable thermostat to turn the temperature down when you are away from home or asleep. CFU offers a 100% cost-share rebate, up to $100, for smart WiFi enabled thermostats that can do this automatically. (Learn more at cfu.net/rebates.)
- Let the sun work for you. Keep curtains and blinds open on sunny winter days, especially on the south side of your home. Closed curtains can also double as insulators at night.
- Check window latches, secure all doors and turn off ventilation fans after use.
- Consider the cost or necessity before using gas fireplaces or garage or bonus space heaters.