Effective today, January 30, 2026, Columbia Gas of Ohio (CGO) has implemented a sharp increase in its Standard Choice Offer (SCO) rate. The price for the natural gas commodity is jumping to $1.071 per Ccf (100 cubic feet), up from $0.7937 in January. For the average residential customer, this transition could result in monthly heating…
Learn how Ohio’s default natural gas rate works and whether it’s the right choice for your home. If you live in Ohio and use natural gas, you might have noticed the term “Standard Choice Offer” or “SCO” on your monthly bill and wondered exactly what you are paying for. For many residents, especially those served…
Budget billing smooths out your utility payments to avoid seasonal spikes, but it doesn’t lower your total energy costs. Opening your utility bill during a heatwave or a cold snap can feel like a gamble, with prices often jumping hundreds of dollars higher than you expected. At UtilitiesForMyHome.com, we know that if you live on…
Understanding how synthetic gas could bridge the gap between fossil fuels and a greener future. Most homeowners know that traditional natural gas comes from underground reservoirs, but new terms like renewable gas and synthetic gas are starting to appear on utility bills and energy news. Synthetic natural gas (SNG) is a man-made alternative designed to…
The January Rate Shock As Ohioans brace for the heart of winter, Enbridge Gas Ohio (formerly Dominion East Ohio) has adjusted its natural gas rates upward for the January 2026 billing cycle. The new Standard Choice Offer (SCO) is set at $5.187 per Mcf (thousand cubic feet), a noticeable bump from the December rate of…
Michigan residents opening their utility bills this month may notice a sharp uptick in costs. Effective January 1, 2026, the state’s three largest natural gas providers, Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, and SEMCO Energy, have adjusted their rates upward, creating a challenging financial landscape for the peak of the winter heating season. While many ratepayers often…
Switching your natural gas supplier can lower your monthly utility bills and give you access to eco-conscious energy options without interrupting your service. Opening your natural gas bill during the peak of winter can be a shock to the system. If that total due is higher than you expected, you aren’t helpless. In deregulated energy…
If you live in Northern Illinois or the Chicago metropolitan area, your heating bill just got heavier. Effective January 1, 2026, the three major natural gas utilities serving the region, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas, and Peoples Gas, have all increased their supply rates. The most dramatic jump hits the suburbs, where Nicor Gas customers…
Ohio residents using natural gas for heating are facing a steep financial reality to start the new year. Effective for the January 2026 billing cycle, the state’s two largest investor-owned utilities, Columbia Gas of Ohio and CenterPoint Energy Ohio, have implemented significant rate increases for customers on the default Standard Choice Offer (SCO). For households…
Master the art of reading your natural gas meter to track usage, spot billing errors, and take control of your energy costs. Most of us only glance at our gas meters when we’re clearing away cobwebs or checking for storm damage, and the row of clock-like faces can look intimidatingly complex at first sight. However,…