WASHINGTON – If you use natural gas to heat your home, it’s probably been an expensive month: The cold weather has resulted in some broken records for gas usage in the area.
Washington Gas says that the recent polar vortex, which brought frigid temperatures the region hadn’t seen in decades, resulted in the highest single-day natural gas usage in the company’s history.
From 1 a.m. on Jan. 7 to 12:59 a.m. Jan. 8, Washington Gas had a “daily sendout” of 1.652 million dekatherms of natural gas, breaking the old record that was set Jan. 16, 2009 by about 8,000 dekatherms. The January 2009 record was during President Barack Obama’s first inauguration weekend in 2009.
The 2014 record wasn’t just a one-day wonder, either: Of the 25 highest usage days in Washington Gas’ history, seven have come this month.
Washington Gas spokesman Ruben Rodriguez says that if you’re having trouble meeting your gas bill, the company is wiling to work with you.
“We want to work with them and set up some sort of payment plan,” Rodriguez says.
He says you should contact the company to set up an arrangement.
WTOP’s Dick Uliano contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on the WTOP Facebook page.
