January’s winter storm could cause a spike in your energy bill. Here’s how much

During the winter storm in January, Texans had to turn on heaters and furnaces to keep warm from the icy outdoors for at least four days.

Atmos Energy recently sent a reminder that customers may notice a higher-than-normal energy bill because of the snow, ice and freezing temperatures that swept the state from Jan. 23 to Jan. 27.

Rockwall resident Kortni Williams told our news partner WFAA she could not believe her bill went up as much as it did. The Atmos energy bill she received in February was $290, which was more than $100 higher than her January bill. The average monthly energy bill in Texas is around $168 per month, according to data from the Energy Information Administration and Choose Texas Power.

The average monthly Atmos bill in 2010 was $53. Now, it’s around $80. And by the end of the decade, it’s projected to be $120 a month, according to WFAA.

Whether you heat up your home via furnace, fireplace or water heater, it all contributes to the gas bill. Here’s what to know before the potential shock of a spiked energy bill.

What determines your energy bill?

According to Atmos Energy, the following factors can impact the pricing of your energy bill:

• How much natural gas you use (it is common to use more gas during colder months due to heating your home)
• The natural gas commodity cost, which is the price of natural gas determined by the market that sells and trades gas
• The cost to move natural gas from where it is stored to your home
• Other taxes and fees

Ways to manage your energy bill

If your energy bill cuts into your budget a bit more than normal, there are ways to manage your payment.

Atmos, Reliant and most other energy companies allow customers to pay their bills through an installment plan.

There are also local energy assistance agencies that will help customers who qualify pay their bills.

Ella Gonzales

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.