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About the City by Councilman Leroy Kingery Our choice gas selection time is approaching and perhaps it would help you to hear a little discussion about some of the issues. You should have already received your selection packet in the mail. Wyoming Association of Municipalities several years ago worked to get us the option of choosing our gas supplier. Some things you might want to consider: The average home uses under 1000 therms of gas each year. What difference does price per therm really make? We are told that .1 cent per therm will make about $7.00 per year difference in your gas bill. So while $7.00 is money to be saved it also shows us that a slight difference in price per therm does not make as much difference as we might have thought. What else should we look at? The fixed rate per therm is a guaranteed rate per therm and helps avoid the upward and downward movement of prices during the year. That means you do not pay more if the rates go up, however it means you do not benefit when the rates go down. We might assume that rates will be high during high usage (winter) and low during low usage (summer), however the price history indicates that most years that is not true and that the fixed rate may not be the best. Market index rate lets you pay the going price for your gas and surprisingly to me the evidence shows that most years that would be the cheapest for you. Blended rate is a combination of a fixed rate and of market rate. Ask the companies to better explain the option you are interested in. They should be able to give you several years of history so you can better make a choice. Maybe the most important aspect! Some of you may want a fixed bill each month so you can budget for the same amount every month. Keep in mind that this is pretty much an “insurance” situation. The companies must protect themselves from possible rate increases, so if they guarantee you a fixed bill each month they must add in enough to be confident they will not lose money. You will pay a higher premium for that guarantee of a fixed bill. An example I was told about but have not confirmed. One customer paid a fixed bill of $106 per month for twelve months. That was a total $1372 for their gas for the year. They signed up for two years! With the group price former mayor, Jim Schneider, obtained that year the same amount of gas usage would have been between $300 and $400 for the year. Be very careful of the "fixed" bill. Another way to get a uniform bill each month would be to ask the company for balanced billing. Most of the companies can do this. That way you are guaranteed the rate without that “insurance” added on and they can “even it out” for you. There will likely be a “true up” time at the end of the season for any amount “over” or “under” you paid, but is should be very close, and you are only paying for what you use. One other thing you might want to consider. Does the company “give back” to the community? Don't be afraid to ask them about what they do for the community. The city has information that is available to you to help you in your choice. Stop by the office and ask for available information. As for me? I gave my ballot to Jim Schnieder because I believed he was getting the lowest price available with the large group rate! I think that Heit & Stacy Poppinga, who purchased This & That, are continuing that process for us.