Why does my bill amount change every month?
There are many factors that go into how your bill is calculated. Some of the factors that may change your bill each month include:
- The weather and seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) - Colder days usually mean you may be using more gas to keep your home warm
- Days in your billing cycle
- A change in lifestyle where you may be using more or less gas compared to previous months
Click the link below to login to our My Account portal and view the My Usage page to compare your usage, the weather and more to prior months.
How to read your Columbia Gas bill
Our bill was designed with you in mind. The interactive bill* below allows you to get a better understanding of the features and charges on your bill so you know you're getting the value you deserve out of your Columbia Gas service.
Click or tap on the bill sections below for details
Why is your account number important?
Your account number is one of the most important pieces of information on your bill. Having your account number handy when you contact us makes it easier to verify your account and identity for security reasons.
You can also use your account
number to create a self-service account in our My Account Portal where you can manage your service for actions such as:
- Make a payment
- View your usage history
- Enroll in Paperless billing, AutoPay, or Budget Plan
- Manage your billing & payment and outage alerts
- Manage your email preferences
- Start, Stop or Move service
We're here for you
Contact us immediately for gas leaks or odors of gas. We're available 24/7 for emergencies. Get to a safe place and call 1-800-344-4077 to report an emergency.
Visit us online at ColumbiaGasOhio.com.
Columbia Gas of Ohio
PO BOX 4629
Carol Stream, IL 60197-4629
Find an authorized payment location by visiting us at ColumbiaGasOhio.com.
How to detect natural gas
If you smell a rotten-egg-like odor, you could have a gas leak. Natural gas is naturally colorless and odorless. We add an odorant called mercaptan to natural gas, which gives it a distinctive smell, similar to rotten eggs or sulfur.
In some cases, you can also identify natural gas by sight or sound. If you see blowing dirt, bubbling water or dead vegetation, or hear a hissing or roaring sound, that could be caused by natural gas.
Follow these tips if you detect natural gas
1. Stop what you’re doing
Don't smoke or light a match. Don't open the windows. Don’t use anything that could cause a spark, like a phone, light switch, appliance or flashlight. Don’t start your car or use your garage door to leave.
2. Leave the area immediately
If you're inside, get out immediately. If you're outside, leave the area quickly.
3. Call 911 and us
From a safe location, away from the building, call 911 and our emergency number at 1-800-344-4077 and wait for crews to arrive.
Account profile
The Account Profile section of your bill will show you the name of the primary account holder, Account Number, Service/Mailing Address, and Type of Customer.
The Type of Customer section is an easy place to see what billing & payment programs you are currently enrolled in, such as CHOICE, Paperless billing, AutoPay or Budget Plan.
Login to our My Account portal to make a payment or manage your enrollments in our billing & payment programs (AutoPay, Paperless, Budget, Payment Plans, etc).
Account Summary
The Account Summary section of your bill gives you information on:
- Previous amount due from your last bill
- Recent payments received
- Current balance
- Charges for gas service this period
- Current charges due with due date
This section will also tell you your AutoPay payment and payment date or payment plan information (if applicable) along with other financial information related to your bill.
Stay in the know
The message board on your bill is helpful to stay in the loop with special programs, programs and offerings at Columbia Gas. The message board will also let you know if there may be any important changes coming to your account or at Columbia Gas. This message board may change each month, so it's important to read it for every bill you get.
How to make a payment
We offer a variety of payment methods for you to pay your bill. You can pay your bill:
- Website
- Mobile App
- Over the phone
If you need to mail in your check: Fold the bill at the perforation, detach and return the coupon with your payment to:
Columbia
Gas of Ohio
PO BOX 4629
Carol Stream, IL 60197-4629
Why is your account number important?
Your account number is one of the most important pieces of information on your bill. Having your account number handy when you contact us makes it easier to verify your account and identity for security reasons.
You can also use your account
number to create a self-service account in our My Account Portal where you can manage your service for actions such as:
- Make a payment
- View your usage history
- Enroll in Paperless billing, AutoPay, or Budget Plan
- Manage your billing & payment and outage alerts
- Manage your email preferences
- Start, Stop or Move service
Helpful definitions to help you understand the charges on your bill
Bill details
Fixed monthly delivery charge - This charge covers a portion of the fixed costs required to ensure that natural gas service is available to your home. Examples include the cost of maintaining the gas lines, meter reading, and billing. This amount is the same with each bill.
Infrastructure replacement program rider - This rider helps recover the cost of replacing or upgrading company infrastructure. This rider is a fixed charge on each bill.
Capital expenditure program rider - This rider provides for recovery of capital investment and related expenses incurred by Columbia Gas. These investments include, but are not limited to, meeting the requirements of governmental authorities related to street and highway construction; accommodating customer requests for relocations; improvement of system operating conditions; power operated equipment and expenditures related to technology and communications infrastructure and growth including service line installations, district regulator stations, meters, meter sets, house regulators and associated land and land rights. This rider is a fixed charge on each bill.
Infrastructure development rider - The Infrastructure Development Rider (IDR) is a mechanism that allows Columbia Gas to help fund economic development projects in the community. The IDR is a fixed charge on each bill.
Usage base charges - Usage base charges are basic charges for natural gas supply services and are comprised of several riders. Click on each rider to learn more.
PIPP Plus rider - The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) Plus requires gas and electric companies to accept payments based on a percentage of household income. As required by the PUCO, the difference between the PIPP Plus customer’s actual consumption and the payment made on this consumption is recovered from all other customers through this charge.
Excise tax revenue rider - This rider, established by the Ohio Legislature, recovers the Gas Distribution Excise Tax levied on Columbia Gas for all natural gas volumes billed. This tax is applied to the consumption that is used.
Uncollectable expense rider - This rider recovers the arrearage amounts not able to be collected from customers.
CHOICE/SCO reconciliation rider - This rider is an additional charge or credit, for all gas consumed, to recover or pass back to customers all imbalances in gas cost expense and recoveries.
Regulatory assessment rider - This rider is for recovery of regulatory assessment taxes paid by Columbia Gas on the gas cost portion of taxable revenue.
Balancing fee - As your natural gas utility, Columbia Gas is responsible for operating its distribution pipeline system to ensure gas flows safely and reliably to its customers. CHOICE® and Standard Choice Offer (SCO) suppliers deliver quantities to Columbia Gas for their customers on a daily basis. The differences between actual consumption and the quantities delivered by suppliers are managed by Columbia Gas through its “balancing” service. A balancing fee is billed directly to our customers and has been removed from the supplier’s rates.
Gas supply cost including sales tax - For those with the Standard Choice Offer, this price reflects Columbia Gas’ costs for acquiring natural gas supplies. Those costs are passed through to our customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis, at no profit to Columbia Gas. For those who participate in the Customer Choice Program, this is the cost of gas as charged by your supplier. This amount will be listed under Supplier portion of the bill.
Gross receipts tax - A tax that must be paid for the gas supplied to all PIPP and Default Sales Service customers by Columbia Gas.
Legal information
As a Columbia Gas customer, you are entitled to representation and certain rights & responsibilities. See the information below
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
If your complaint is not resolved after you have called Columbia Gas of Ohio, or for general utility information, residential and business customers may contact the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) for assistance at 1-800-686-7826 (toll free) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, or at http://www.puco.ohio.gov. Hearing or speech impaired customers may contact the PUCO via 7-1-1 (Ohio relay service).
Office of Ohio Consumers' Counsel
The Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) represents residential utility customers in matters before the PUCO. The OCC can be contacted at 1-877-742-5622 (toll free) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, or at http://www.pickocc.org .
Rights & Responsibilities
A summary of customer rights and responsibilities is available at ColumbiaGasOhio.com or by calling 1-800-344-4077. Information covers rules regarding service installation, security deposits, billing and payment, payment plans, low-income assistance, disconnection and reconnection of service, meter reading and testing, usage and payment history, natural gas safety, maintenance of customer owned service lines, employee identification, rate information and alternatives, Customer CHOICE, privacy rights, and complaint procedures. You may obtain a copy of the full minimum gas service standards at the PUCO website or phone numbers shown above.
Apples to Apples
For a comparison of available competitive natural gas suppliers, visit the PUCO website at www.energychoice.ohio.gov or call 1-800-686-7826.
Bankruptcy Notices
Mail to:
Columbia Gas of Ohio, Revenue Recovery
PO Box 117
Columbus, OH 43216.
Other Correspondence
Mail to:
Columbia Gas of Ohio
P.O. Box 2318
Columbus, OH 43216-2318
or contact us at ColumbiaGasOhio.com.
View your energy usage
This section shows you the 13 month usage history at your service address. Your usage will change throughout the year based on your general usage at home and seasonal weather.
View your usage history online
Bill details
Fixed monthly delivery charge - This charge covers a portion of the fixed costs required to ensure that natural gas service is available to your home. Examples include the cost of maintaining the gas lines, meter reading, and billing. This amount is the same with each bill.
Infrastructure replacement program rider - This rider helps recover the cost of replacing or upgrading company infrastructure. This rider is a fixed charge on each bill.
Capital expenditure program rider - This rider provides for recovery of capital investment and related expenses incurred by Columbia Gas. These investments include, but are not limited to, meeting the requirements of governmental authorities related to street and highway construction; accommodating customer requests for relocations; improvement of system operating conditions; power operated equipment and expenditures related to technology and communications infrastructure and growth including service line installations, district regulator stations, meters, meter sets, house regulators and associated land and land rights. This rider is a fixed charge on each bill.
Infrastructure development rider - The Infrastructure Development Rider (IDR) is a mechanism that allows Columbia Gas to help fund economic development projects in the community. The IDR is a fixed charge on each bill.
Usage base charges - Usage base charges are basic charges for natural gas supply services and are comprised of several riders. Click on each rider to learn more.
PIPP Plus rider - The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) Plus requires gas and electric companies to accept payments based on a percentage of household income. As required by the PUCO, the difference between the PIPP Plus customer’s actual consumption and the payment made on this consumption is recovered from all other customers through this charge.
Excise tax revenue rider - This rider, established by the Ohio Legislature, recovers the Gas Distribution Excise Tax levied on Columbia Gas for all natural gas volumes billed. This tax is applied to the consumption that is used.
Uncollectable expense rider - This rider recovers the arrearage amounts not able to be collected from customers.
CHOICE/SCO reconciliation rider - This rider is an additional charge or credit, for all gas consumed, to recover or pass back to customers all imbalances in gas cost expense and recoveries.
Regulatory assessment rider - This rider is for recovery of regulatory assessment taxes paid by Columbia Gas on the gas cost portion of taxable revenue.
Balancing fee - As your natural gas utility, Columbia Gas is responsible for operating its distribution pipeline system to ensure gas flows safely and reliably to its customers. CHOICE® and Standard Choice Offer (SCO) suppliers deliver quantities to Columbia Gas for their customers on a daily basis. The differences between actual consumption and the quantities delivered by suppliers are managed by Columbia Gas through its “balancing” service. A balancing fee is billed directly to our customers and has been removed from the supplier’s rates.
Gas supply cost including sales tax - For those with the Standard Choice Offer, this price reflects Columbia Gas’ costs for acquiring natural gas supplies. Those costs are passed through to our customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis, at no profit to Columbia Gas. For those who participate in the Customer Choice Program, this is the cost of gas as charged by your supplier. This amount will be listed under Supplier portion of the bill.
Gross receipts tax - A tax that must be paid for the gas supplied to all PIPP and Default Sales Service customers by Columbia Gas.
Keep your contact information updated
Keeping your contact information updated is really important. By providing Columbia Gas a telephone number, it enables us to call you about your utility service, future service appointments and other important information related to your account. By providing your phone number, you're agreeing to receive autodialed and prerecorded voice calls. Please notify us if you wish to opt out or if you no longer use this number.
Donate to HeatShare
HeatShare, the Columbia Gas fuel fund program, is a fund of last resort for households who have exhausted all other sources of assistance and still have trouble paying their heating bills. The fund is supported through donations from Columbia Gas customers and matching contributions from Columbia Gas.
Your HeatShare donations are tax-deductible.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to make a deposit to open an account?
Depending on your credit report, you may be required to pay a security deposit to get service in your name. The deposit is security that the final bill will be paid. It can’t be used to pay current or delinquent bills. The deposit will be applied to your account after you establish a good payment history for 12 months or when you receive a final bill after you stop service.
Thank you for your response.
Where can I find my rights and responsibilities?
As our customer, you have certain rights and responsibilities. We believe that understanding your rights and our policies will help us work together. Read our Rights and Responsibilities booklet.
Thank you for your response.
When will my budget account be reviewed next?
The next budget year begins in August. We will review your account again at that time to establish a budget payment amount for the next 12 months, based on your usage during the most recent 12 months and current gas costs.
Thank you for your response.
What is Budget Plan?
Budget Plan is a free service that allows you to balance your monthly gas bill and avoid the seasonal highs and lows. Enroll today.
Thank you for your response.
What if I decide I don’t want to be on Budget Plan anymore?
If you decide you want to be removed from Budget Plan, you can remove your enrollment in your web account at any time. If you cancel your Budget Plan, your full account balance will be due on your next statement rather than your Budget amount.
Thank you for your response.
What is the Standard Choice Offer?
The Standard Choice Offer (SCO) is the price is set by a competitive auction, overseen by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. It’s adjusted monthly based on natural gas market prices. Learn more about SCO.
Thank you for your response.
Have additional questions about your bill?
Call us at 1-800-344-4077 for other billing questions.
Thank you for your response.
Can I download copies of my old bills?
To download a copy of your old bills, sign in to your account and select Bills & Payments from the navigation.
Thank you for your response.
Why is my bill so high?
Your gas bill will fluctuate depending on the weather, season of year, change in lifestyle or addition of family members. To understand your usage and learn how to save on your energy bill:
- Sign into your account.
- Select the My Usage option in the menu.
- Compare your usage by month, year, average temperature and number of billing days.
Thank you for your response.
When is the best time to join Budget Plan?
Although you can join at any time, you’ll get the most benefits and lowest budget payment amount by joining at the start of the budget year in August since there will be more months to spread your heating costs.
Thank you for your response.
Can I save money through the Budget Plan?
The Budget Plan is a great tool for spreading your winter heating costs more evenly across an entire year, although it’s not designed to reduce your total costs. It will allow you to know what you can expect to pay each month, and should allow you to have more spending money available during the holidays. It’s easy to sign up, and it’s free.
Thank you for your response.
Where can I find a bill overview?
Watch this short video to get a better understanding of your bill.
Thank you for your response.
If I'm on Budget Plan, when will my budget account be reviewed and potentially adjusted?
The next budget year begins in August. We will review your account again at that time to establish a budget payment amount for the next 12 months, based on your usage during the most recent 12 months and current gas costs.
Thank you for your response.
Can I join the Budget Plan anytime?
Yes, you can enroll at any time. However, the budget season starts in August and the fewer months you have to spread the costs may result in a higher budget amount.
Thank you for your response.
Why did my Budget Plan amount change?
We’ll review your Budget Plan amount and adjust your payment if necessary to keep you from having a large settle-up amount at the end of the Budget year.
Thank you for your response.
What are the distribution charges on my bill?
The distribution charges are the service charges for the delivery service to a retail customer from the point of receipt into our distribution system.
Thank you for your response.
What is the customer charge on my bill?
The customer charge is a flat charge to cover a portion of the cost of installing, maintaining and replacing our lines, meters and other equipment, as well as servicing your account.
Thank you for your response.
What is the difference between budget billing and my actual billing?
Budget billing is our Budget Plan program. It calculates your Budget payment amount based on the history of usage at your address, square footage of your home or building, the projected cost of service, and rates for service and delivery. Your actual billing is based on our regular rates and the actual energy you use.
Thank you for your response.
View Transcript
A video about what you can learn from your bill.
A fully regulated energy provider
We’re regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and state and federal agencies. These organizations approve rate schedules and terms that govern our operations.
