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PUBLIC NOTICE
Cold Weather Energy Alert – Natural Gas Wholesale Price Increase
Issued: January 2026
Due to extreme cold across much of the United States, demand for natural gas has increased significantly, resulting in a short-term rise in wholesale natural gas prices. This increase is being driven by higher regional demand and weather-related impacts on production and delivery.
Centennial Utilities purchases natural gas at wholesale market prices and passes that cost directly to customers with no mark-up. Centennial Utilities does not profit from the cost of natural gas. While the current wholesale price increase is expected to be temporary, wholesale prices can affect utility costs and may influence customer bills over time.
What Centennial Utilities Is Doing
Centennial Utilities actively works to reduce the impact of price volatility and extreme winter conditions on customers. These efforts include forecasting winter demand, managing supply and purchasing strategies when feasible, and using operational strategies during peak demand periods to reduce reliance on short-term market purchases.
Customer Conservation Request
For the next several days, customers are encouraged—health and safety permitting—to conserve energy to help reduce system demand and limit the effect of high wholesale prices.
Recommended Conservation Tips
Lower your thermostat: Set between 65–70°F when home and reduce to 58°F when away, if safe and comfortable.
Use sunlight effectively: Open blinds during sunny hours; close them at night to reduce heat loss.
Keep exterior doors fully closed: Even small gaps can cause significant heat loss.
Use ceiling fans wisely: Run fans clockwise at low speed to push warm air down.
Reduce water heating costs: Lower water heater settings (minimum 120°F). A 10-degree reduction can save 3–5%.
Change furnace filters: Replace monthly during winter; may reduce heating costs 5–15%.
Seal drafts: Caulk and weather-strip windows/doors; window sealing kits can also help.
Improve insulation where possible: Insulating crawl spaces, ducts, and walls can reduce overall heating costs.
When Customers May See Impacts
Conserving energy now can help reduce immediate usage and may lessen future cost impacts. Wholesale price increases may not appear on customer bills right away depending on billing cycles and annual cost adjustments. Reducing overall system demand during high-price periods helps limit the amount of gas purchased at elevated market rates.
Additional Resources & Assistance
If you are facing difficulty paying your bill, please contact Centennial Utilities to discuss available options, including payment arrangements and assistance resources.
IMPORTANT SAFETY REMINDER
Natural gas contains an odorant that may smell like sulfur or rotten eggs to help detect leaks. If you detect this smell inside or near your home:
Leave the area immediately.
Do not turn electrical switches on/off, use appliances, or use a phone indoors.
Once safely outside and away from the area, call for assistance immediately.
In a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Call Immediately to Report Natural Gas Smells
If you smell gas in your home, leave immediately. Do NOT use anything that may cause a spark, including electrical switches, telephone or even cell phone. Go directly to a neighbor’s home and use a phone not based in your house to report the gas smell. To report a natural gas smell or gas leak, call Centennial Utilities at 763-784-6751 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After hours calls should be made to Central Communications at 763-427-1212 or 911. Central Communications will answer that number as “police and fire”, as they also dispatch those emergency services. You should indicate to the dispatcher that you are requesting only Centennial Utilities, or the dispatcher may send out the fire department.