Home Residential Services Resource Center Understanding Your Bill Nevada Bills & Gas Prices FAQ
What You Need to Know
There are two main factors that could be affecting your bill this season:
- Changes in usage
- Changes in the cost of gas
If your usage is similar to previous years but your bill has increased, the difference is most likely due to the change in the cost of gas.
We have experienced an over 75% increase in the cost of gas over the past two years. We purchase gas on your behalf, and your cost of gas reflects the price that we actually paid for the gas.
To protect you from experiencing dramatic market changes in gas costs, our regulators allow price changes to be reflected in your bills gradually over time. So while the cost of gas has gone down, the current cost of gas in bills reflects these past purchases. But we have some good news. We have started seeing gas costs go down, and this is beginning to be reflected in bills.
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If you find yourself in need of aid to cover utility bills or are seeking more effective ways to manage your budget, we're here to help.
Learn more about changes in residential natural gas pricing history at U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Find more information about
Nevada Rates & Regulation
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View historical gas costs and average bills for Southern and Northern Nevada in the charts below.
Southern Nevada Average Bill
Delivery Charge and Gas Cost comparison for the average single-family residential monthly bill in Southern Nevada. The Delivery Charge has remained stable while the Gas Cost has fluctuated.
Northern Nevada Average Bill
Delivery Charge and Gas Cost comparison for the average single-family residential monthly bill in Northern Nevada. The Delivery Charge has remained stable while the Gas Cost has fluctuated.
We hope this information helps provide a simple explanation for what can be a very complicated process and helps you better understand how your bills are calculated and how usage, cooler weather, and market prices for natural gas can all contribute to fluctuations customers may see in their bills.
Understanding Your Bill
Why has my bill increased compared to last year?
There are two main factors that could be affecting your bill this season: changes in usage and changes in the cost of gas.
Your usage can depend on several factors. Wintertime and cooler temperatures will be primary contributor to increased usage things like your thermostat setting, number of familly members or guests in your home, increased water heater usage, or use of natural gas appliances such as fireplaces or pool heaters. Your home's energy efficiency is another factor. Leaks and cracks around windows and doors may contribute to increased gas usage to maintain your home's comfortable temperature.
If your usage is similar but your bill has increased, the difference is most likely the change in the cost of gas. The price of natural gas, like other commodities, is affected by supply and demand. We have experienced an over 75% increase in the cost of gas over the past two years. We purchase gas on behalf of our customers – the price you pay is the same as we paid, with no markup or profit to the Company. To protect you from experiencing dramatic market changes in gas costs, our regulators allow price changes to be reflected in your bills gradually over time. The good news – we have started seeing gas costs go down, and this is beginning to be reflected in bills.
What are the different charges I see on my bill?
There are two primary charges on your bill: the Gas Cost and the Delivery Charge (the cost of providing safe and reliable service).
Your Gas Cost is based on your usage. Southwest Gas bills customers on a per-therm basis, which is the amount of energy contained in the natural gas delivered to your home. Based on your natural gas usage, your total therms used each month may increase or decrease.
A therm is a unit of heat measurement (one therm is equal to 100,000 British thermal units) used to measure energy.
The Delivery Charge primarily reflects a base rate for the cost of providing safe and reliable natural gas service to your home or business. These base rates are only adjusted after they have been scutinzed and approved thought the regulatory they have been scrutinized and approved through the regulatory process of a general rate case.
The remaining costs are comprised of surcharges for specific previously approved programs and federal, state, and local taxes.
Why wasn’t I notified of the increases to my bill?
Southwest Gas provides written notice of all quarterly gas cost adjustments and base rate increases in compliance with all laws and regulations.
Additional bill inserts advise customers in advance of changes in gas costs each quarter (January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1), along with providing tips on how to conserve energy to keep bills lower and assistance programs available.
This information can be found either on your bill and/or as an insert accompanying your bill, for both physical and electronic delivery.
If you have any additional questions about this information call us at
877-860-6020
or visit
swgas.com/contactus
Gas Costs
Why does the cost of gas change?
The price of natural gas, like other commodities, is affected by supply and demand. We have experienced an over 75% increase in the cost of gas over the past two years.
The price of natural gas, like other commodities, can rise and fall affected by supply and demand and other external factors like weather events, policy changes, and other economic factors. We purchase gas on behalf of our customers, and your cost of gas reflects the price that we actually paid for the gas with no markup or profit to the Company. To protect you from experiencing dramatic market changes in gas costs, our regulators allow price changes to be reflected in your bills gradually over time. This means that it takes time to pay off the balances of these purchased gas costs, so even though the cost of gas has gone down recently, the amount currently reflected in bills still reflects the higher prices from the past.
The good news – we have started seeing gas costs go down, and this is beginning to be reflected in bills. Gas Cost adjustments in October and January have included reductions of over 9%, we anticipate another gas cost reduction of over 15% in April 2024. For the average residential customer, this equals an approximate monthly savings of $18.27 in Northern Nevada and $9.54 in Southern Nevada. Based on current information, we project that trend to continue through 2024, predicting an additional approximate 50% reduction in July.
Does Southwest Gas profit from the gas I use in my home?
No. We purchase gas on your behalf, and the price you pay is the same as we paid - there is no markup.
We are only allowed to earn a return on the investments we make in our system to help ensure the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas service to your home or business. These investments and the return are scrutinized and approved by our regulators as part of a General Rate Case.
Are gas costs going to go down?
Yes. We have started seeing gas costs go down, and this is beginning to be reflected in bills.
At present, market prices have stabilized, and this is beginning to be reflected in bills. Gas Cost adjustments in October and January have totaled reductions of over 9%, we anticipate another Gas Cost reduction of over 15% in April 2024, and based on current information, we project that trend to continue through 2024, predicting and additional approximate 50% reduction in July. Additional changes in the cost of gas will be passed on through future quarterly gas cost adjustments.
If gas costs are going down, why is my bill not going down?
To protect our customers from experiencing dramatic changes in costs, pricing changes are gradually reflected in customers' bills over time.
Because of this timing difference, you paid lower than actual gas costs throughout much of the past two years, even though the actual cost of gas was much higher. This timing difference is intended to protect our customers by smoothing out large swings in gas costs over an extended period of time.
The good news – we have started seeing gas costs go down, and this is beginning to be reflected in bills. Gas Cost adjustments in October and January have included reductions of over 9%, we anticipate another gas cost reduction of over 15% in April 2024, and based on current information, we project that trend to continue through 2024, predicting an additional approximate 50% reduction in July.
Delivery Charge
What is a General Rate Case?
Southwest Gas is a regulated utility and only earns a return on our investments that are approved by our regulators. We are not allowed to adjust our base delivery charges without regulatory approval.
The Company makes significant investments in our distribution system to ensure our customers can rely on their natural gas service. Unlike traditional companies, regulated utilities can only recoup those investments after they have been scrutinized and approved through the regulatory process of a general rate case.
We will continue to prioritize our efforts to operate efficiently and find cost savings initiatives to ensure we are working on your behalf to manage expenses and ensure just and prudent costs for providing safe and reliable energy service to our communities.
I heard the PUCN approved Southwest Gas’ rate case in Nevada, how does this affect me?
In April 2024 the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada approved a base rate request that included a partial settlement proposal. The approval allows Southwest Gas the opportunity to start recovering the significant investments made in the State while also ensuring costs are just and reasonable for customers.
The approved increase to our Delivery Charge rates is estimated to increase monthly single-family residential customer bills by $6.44, or 8.5%, in Southern Nevada, and $5.21, or 4.1%,in Northern Nevada. The Delivery Charge has remained stable over the past 15 years, increasing at a rate less than inflation despite the significant investments the Company has made to help support growth, ensure the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas, and to meet the ongoing demand for natural gas service within our State.
We expect that the average single-family residential customer should experience a net reduction in their monthly bills due to the recent reductions in Gas Costs that are much greater than the recently approved increase in the Delivery Charge rate - 9.9% lower, or reduced by approximately $9.54 per month, in Southern Nevada; and 12.4% lower, or reduced by approximately $18.27 per month, in Northern Nevada. We also expect gas costs to continue to be lower through the first half of 2024.
Southwest Gas is committed to managing our costs to ensure our customers continue to receive safe, reliable, and affordable service. We continue to prioritize our efforts to operate efficiently and identify cost-saving opportunities to ensure we are working on our customers’ behalf to prudently manage expenses and costs for providing safe and reliable energy service to our communities while supporting our cities’ growth.
Customer Assistance
Is there any way I can lower my bill?
Simple efforts like being mindful of thermostat settings, installing weather stripping around doors and windows, and replacing air filters can all help keep winter bills down.
Some homeowners and renters may even qualify to receive assistance with money-saving home improvements to increase the energy efficiency of their homes at no cost.
We encourage all residential customers to take advantage of the energy savings portal on our website. Here, you can find personalized tips on how to lower your energy use and compare your energy use to similar or comparable homes.
For more energy-efficiency tips and information visit
swgas.com/savemoney
What if I need help paying my bill?
We are here to help and have a variety of payment and assistance programs available.
You can sign up for the Equal Payment Plan to help manage your payments and monthly budget. We also offer assistance programs, including Energy Share, an emergency fund utility assistance program, and an Installment Plan for those with outstanding bills.
For more information about these and other programs call us at 877-860-6020 or visit swgas.com/nvassist
Special Assistance Programs
Southwest Gas offers money-saving options for residential customers who qualify for assistance. To find out if you meet the criteria for these programs, choose your location below.
Energy-Saving Tips
When you're spending more time at home, your energy use may increase. On average, natural gas can save your household $1,132/year when compared to other homes that use electricity to heat, cook, and dry clothing.
Residential Rebates
Save money when you use high-efficiency natural gas appliances. Get rebates on qualified appliances and equipment in your area.
