Dear Customer,
I'm reaching out on behalf of Columbia Gas to let you know that we understand our responsibility to provide safe, reliable service to your home. And, at this time, when everyone is dealing with rising costs, we also understand that in providing reliable service, we need to keep affordability top of mind. So, for a few moments, let me share some thoughts with you about how Columbia does its best to balance service reliability and cost.
About half of your bill covers the cost of the gas being produced from wells and delivered to Ohio and taxes, which Columbia does not profit from. Upon receiving that gas and using our pipe system to bring it to you, the rest of your bill supports our employees who operate and maintain the system, provide customer service, and help fund investments to replace aging pipelines and expand service to homes and businesses in our communities.
Whether we have done a good job investing in our system is usually tested during the coldest months of the year. This past winter, our teams successfully completed nine critical projects ahead of winter operations, strengthening overall system stability and reliability, resulting in no large-scale outages despite record cold temperatures.
As we improve our system over time, we recover our necessary costs like any business. Over the last 20 years, the service you received from Columbia Gas has increased gradually at a rate well below inflation. During that same period, other everyday items have increased significantly, with childcare up 95%, auto insurance 122%, internet 93%, cable/streaming TV services 80%, and the list goes on. We know every increase matters, and while rising costs affect our business too, we remain committed to providing safe, reliable service while carefully managing costs so your gas service remains affordable.
Winter is the most expensive time of the year because we are providing more gas to heat your home. We encourage you to start preparing now to manage those costs. Reach out to us at 800-344-4077 to get connected to energy assistance programs or learn about our Budget and payment plan options. Additionally, this is the perfect time to make simple adjustments to help reduce energy usage. You can find important energy-saving tips on our website at columbiagasohio.com/energy-efficiency.
While being a service provider is our most important role, we also value our community partnerships. Each year our Foundation (not funded by our customers) invests around $2 million in supporting not-for-profit agencies. We partner with more than 180 charitable organizations throughout the state, including Student Success Stores, Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, Keep Ohio Beautiful and more. This year, team members donated more than $130,000 to support United Way's efforts in connecting Ohioans with basic needs.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter; I hope it provides some insight and clarity as to who we are as a company. We value the opportunity to provide a critical service to you, and we welcome your feedback. I know the energy world is changing, but I promise our commitment to you will not. Our employees will continue to show up every day to make sure you receive the safe and reliable service you need.
Bob Heidorn
President and COO
Columbia Gas of Ohio
