PG&E l Bills for December won’t be as high as feared

heaters

But just because heating bills aren’t expected to rise quite so fast this month, they’ll still average $110.55, compared with $88.10 last year at this time. And looking ahead, there’s little reason to jump for joy, experts say.

‘‘We’re going to see undoubtedly somewhere in the country a major cold snap, and when that happens natural gas prices are going to go up,’’ said PG&E spokesman Jason Alderman. ‘‘It’s still going to be a very expensive winter.’’

Indeed, PG&E predicts the average residential gas bill for November through March this winter will total $546.93 — a 36 percent rise from winter 2004.

James Sweeney, a Stanford University professor of management science and engineering who is an energy expert, also warned against deriving too much hope from PG&E’s announcement about December’s heating bills.

‘‘The prices of natural gas at the well-head remain very high,’’ he said. ‘‘There are apt to be further price increases. . . . The bottom line is, there is no good news.’’

Last month, PG&E announced a rebate plan for residential and small-business customers who cut down on their natural gas use this winter. Under the plan, those who reduce gas consumption by at least 10 percent from January through March can shave about 20 percent off their natural gas bills.

But with December’s gas bills lower than had been feared, PG&E executives worry their customers now may be less diligent about saving energy.

‘‘There is a concern people will not be exercising their conservation muscle as much as we would like,’’ said Alderman. ‘‘We want people to remain vigilant.’’

He advised PG&E’s 4.1 in most households. million gas customers to begin cutting back on their gas as soon as they get their December bill. Although the rebate program doesn’t begin until January, he said, many customers will have some December gas usage averaged into their January bill.

Bob Finkelstein, executive director of The Utility Reform Network, a San Francisco consumer group that specializes in energy issues, said he has no doubt consumers will cut back on their gas use this winter.

‘‘People will have the same reaction I’m going to have when I open that really high gas bill — that this can’t continue, that this is too high,’’ he said.

Even though the December price increase is better than expected, he added, ‘‘It’s merely that the bullet we’re trying to dodge is a slightly smaller caliber.’’

Some consumers said they resent the rebate program, because they previously had cut back on their gas consumption and don’t see how they can reduce it further to qualify for the program.

‘‘My concern is they’re going to be rebating those people who’ve been gorging,’’ said Sandra Youngman, a 57- year-old labor union office worker who lives in San Jose. ‘‘I just think that’s unfair.’’

Youngman said she and her husband usually keep the heat off, wrap themselves in blankets and thermal underwear and try to stay cozy in bed at night with microwaved heat packs. Beyond that, she said, ‘‘I don’t know what else to do to save.’’

Among other things, experts advise consumers to lower thermostats to 65 degrees, insulate water heaters, wash clothes in cold water and replace water faucets with more efficient heads. Contact Steve Johnson at sjohnson@mercurynews. com or (408) 920-5043.