Natural Gas Fixed-Charge Calculator
Natural Gas Fixed-Charge Calculator. Include specified recurring utility fees. Enter your values and view the result.
Natural Gas Fixed-Charge Calculator
Include specified recurring utility fees.
Use the calculation engine below to model your exact costs with custom fuel prices, distances, and vehicle efficiencies:
Natural Gas Fixed-Charge Calculator: inputs
Adjust sliders or enter exact figures
Monthly Fuel Budget
Real-Time Visual Breakdown
Comparing your expense against alternative vehicle classes
Price Fluctuation Stress Test
See how unexpected gas price surges would impact your monthly budget
How Natural Gas Fixed-Charge Calculator Works
This tool works by adding specified recurring fees, such as the customer charge and infrastructure surcharges, to usage charges, and showing how fixed fees raise the effective price per therm.
- Step 1
List fixed fees
Enter each recurring monthly fee from the bill: customer charge, meter fee, and surcharges.
- Step 2
Enter the usage rate
Type the combined supply and delivery rate per therm.
- Step 3
Enter monthly usage
Type therms used in the month.
- Step 4
Read the effective rate
The calculator shows the bill, the fixed share, and the effective cost per therm.
Natural Gas Fixed-Charge Calculator Formula
The formula divides the full bill by therms to find the effective rate.
Fixed Total = Σ Monthly Fixed Fees
Bill = Fixed Total + Therms × Usage Rate
Effective Rate = Bill ÷ Therms
- Fixed Total
- = all fees charged regardless of usage
- Effective Rate
- = true cost per therm including fixed fees
Worked Example
- A bill has a $12.50 customer charge and a $4.00 infrastructure surcharge, a fixed total of $16.50.
- Summer month, 20 therms at $1.20: bill = $16.50 + $24.00 = $40.50; effective rate = $2.03 per therm.
- Winter month, 150 therms: bill = $16.50 + $180.00 = $196.50; effective rate = $1.31 per therm.
- Fixed fees make up 41% of the summer bill and 8% of the winter bill.
Natural Gas Fixed-Charge Calculator Conversion Table
The table shows how $16.50 of fixed fees change the bill and the effective rate at $1.20 per therm.
| Therms | kWh | Bill | Fixed Share | Effective Rate / Therm | Effective Rate / kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 147 | $22.50 | 73.3% | $4.50 | $0.154 |
| 10 | 293 | $28.50 | 57.9% | $2.85 | $0.097 |
| 20 | 586 | $40.50 | 40.7% | $2.03 | $0.069 |
| 40 | 1,172 | $64.50 | 25.6% | $1.61 | $0.055 |
| 80 | 2,345 | $112.50 | 14.7% | $1.41 | $0.048 |
| 120 | 3,517 | $160.50 | 10.3% | $1.34 | $0.046 |
| 150 | 4,396 | $196.50 | 8.4% | $1.31 | $0.045 |
| 200 | 5,861 | $256.50 | 6.4% | $1.28 | $0.044 |
What is a Natural Gas Fixed-Charge Calculator?
A Natural Gas Fixed Charge Calculator is a utility cost tool that includes specified recurring fees in the cost of natural gas.
Fixed fees are charged every month whether the home uses 5 therms or 200. Those fees dominate summer bills and push the effective price per therm far above the posted rate. The Natural Gas Fixed Charge Calculator shows the real cost per therm at every usage level.
The result matters for homes that use gas only for cooking or a water heater. Low usage plus high fixed fees can make gas the most expensive energy in the home per unit.
What are the uses of a Natural Gas Fixed-Charge Calculator?
There are 4 main uses of the Natural Gas Fixed Charge Calculator, including summer bill checks, gas service decisions, and appliance comparisons.
Explain summer bills
See why a low-usage month still costs $35 to $45.
Decide on gas service
Test whether keeping gas only for cooking is worth the fixed fees.
Compare appliances
Compare gas and electric water heaters at the effective rate.
Track surcharges
See the effect of new infrastructure or rider fees.