Residents in a Montgomery County neighborhood say their natural gas bills have surged to unusually high levels this winter, leaving many frustrated and searching for answers.
One Magnolia family reported being billed nearly $4,700 in February — a charge they say is about 15 times higher than what they typically pay.
“Last month, we received our bill, and it was for $4,669.48, and that is when I said absolutely not,” said Abbe Roberts, a homeowner who contacted KHOU 11 for help.
Roberts said her household usually pays between $90 and $300 per month. She believes the spike was caused by a faulty meter that has since been replaced, but said the bill has not yet been adjusted.
“Something didn’t alert them in their system,” she said. “All of a sudden, it’s a $4,000 bill. Maybe we should look into that. Nothing.”
Other residents in the area report similar increases. One family said their bill rose from about $50 in November to $618 this month. Another homeowner, Linda Schmidt, said her typical $40 bill climbed to $180.
“We’re just seeking answers,” Schmidt said. “What’s going on? Why is our bill so outrageous?”
The neighborhood is served by Pines Gas, which residents say is their only provider.
In a statement, the company attributed the higher bills to a winter storm in late January that drove up natural gas prices. The company said those costs were reflected in February and March billing cycles and are expected to return to normal.
Residents say that the explanation does not fully account for the size of the increases. Several have filed complaints with the Railroad Commission of Texas, which oversees natural gas utilities in the state.
“They just want to ignore it and hope that we go away,” Roberts said. “That’s not what’s happening.”
As bills remain unresolved, some residents say they are weighing difficult decisions.
“I’m even thinking, am I going to have to move?” Schmidt said.
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