Owatonna Public Utilities rates are designed to provide our customers with the lowest possible gas price. There are essentially three parts to your Gas billing: (1) the monthly service charge, (2) the commodity charge, and (3) the Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) charge.

The monthly service charge covers the operation and maintenance of our natural gas system, as well as, capital costs. It is not impacted by the price of natural gas.

The commodity charge covers the cost for the gas itself. We pass this charge directly onto the customer in the form of rates which are adopted yearly by our Owatonna Public Utilities Commission.

The PGA is then used to correct the cost of gas if it varies from the rates previously set. The Owatonna Public Utilities is a not-for-profit company and uses the PGA adjustment to prevent us from loosing or gaining unnecessary revenue.

Cost Savings Tips for Staying Warm this Winter

• Installing a programmable setback thermostat can be a convenient and effective way to control heating costs without sacrificing comfort. You can set it for a warmer temperature while youre home and a lower temperature at night and also while no one is home during the day.
• A dirty furnace filter can drive up the cost of heating your home. Check your furnace filter frequently and replace or clean it as needed.
• A humidifier either on your furnace or as a separate unit can help control heating costs. Thats because you feel warmer in moist air and can set your thermostat lower.
• Adjust register openings to keep various rooms of your home at the desired temperature. Remember that heat rises, so you may want to partially close upstairs registers.
• Use draperies, blinds, curtains or shutters on all windows to slow the loss of heat through the glass. Keep window coverings open on sunny days to let in the suns warmth. Close them to insulate against cold outside air at night.
• Rearrange furniture for winter, placing it next to inside instead of outside walls and away from windows. Avoid blocking heating registers and air returns with furniture, draperies, or carpet.
• Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans sparingly in cold weather. In just one hour, these fans can blow away a houseful of warm air.
• If you have ceiling fans, make sure the mountings are snug and tight. Use clear caulking to seal any leaks you may find as even minor cracks around the base can let in lots of cold air.
• Purchase some inexpensive, pre-cut insulation gaskets and seal out the cold air entering your home through electrical switches and outlet plates, particularly those on outside walls.
• Closets and cabinets on outside walls can leak a great deal of cold air, so make sure the doors fit snugly and keep them tightly closed.
• Weatherize your home. Make sure your home is well insulated. Caulk and weather-strip windows and doors to seal drafts.
• Install storm windows.
• Insulate your gas water heater, drain sediment from the bottom of the tank, and set the temperature to 120 degrees.
• Set the thermostat to 68F during the winter months.
• Consider enrolling in the Budget Payment Plan to average your bill over a 12 month period and eliminate the seasonal fluctuations. Or consider putting aside savings or making larger monthly payments now for the heating bills when winter comes.
• Consider replacing old furnaces and gas appliances with energy efficient ones.
• Cost Savings Tips for Staying Warm this Winter

Gas Pricing Links

• http://www.dtnergy.com/PMA/gas.cfm

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