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DES MOINES, Iowa -- Warnings from energy companies of much higher natural gas prices this winter are coming true.
Iowa-based MidAmerican Energy says the average home heating bill more than doubled in the month of December.
The say natural gas was plentiful during last year's pandemic business slow-downs, which is not the case this year.
"They just weren't using as much natural gas, so there was lots of supply. Production of gas had slowed down because people weren't using it. Fast forward to this year with plants back up and running and using lots of natural gas--supply has just not kept pace," says MidAmerican Energy's Geoff Greenwood.
He says MidAmerican and it's customers are in the same boat when it comes to natural gas cost right now.
"We charge customers, dollar-for-dollar, what we pay for the cost of that gas. And the cost of that gas a shot up over the last year," he says.
Greenwood says MidAmerican Energy wants to hear from customers who may have trouble paying much steeper natural gas bills this home heating season.
"If you do have problems paying your bill or think that this is going to be an issue, give us a call and let us know your situation. We'll make every reasonable accommodation we can to get you--get us both--through the winter heating season," he says.
Greenwood says home heating cost assistance is also available through the State of Iowa's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP