Your Community Partner
ZIA NATURAL GAS
COMPANY
January 2016
NATURAL GAS NEWS
Spring!
Vol 13, Issue 1
Burn it Once, not Twice!
I
n 2014, for the first time ever, natural gas
trumped coal as the top source of electric power generation at 31% vs coal at 30% here in the
United States. A dramatic difference considering
that in 2010 coal accounted for 44% and natural
gas just 22%. The interesting part for you as a
natural gas user is that electric companies lose
over 66% of the possible energy generated during
generation and transmission before it ever makes
it you, the consumer. Natural gas offers over 90%
of the possible energy being utilized directly by
consumers at the point of use, your home, business, or farm. Because of electricity generation
and transmission losses, electric heat is often
more expensive than heat produced in homes or
businesses that use combustion appliances, such
as natural gas. Unfortunately, not all homeowners recognize the impact that choice of heating
fuel can have on both their wallet and the environment. More importantly if you are using electrical
energy for cooking, drying, space or water heating
you are essentially burning it twice, not once and
it is wasting your hard earned money. Natural gas
heating systems provide a high level of energy efficiency, which can keep utility costs low. Efficient
home heating also reduces air and water pollution, and protects the earth from greenhouse gas
emissions and global warming. On the other hand,
according to Energy Savers, electric heating systems are one of the most expensive and inefficient
ways to heat your home. These units often feature
labels touting “100 percent efficiency,” but this is
misleading. All of the electricity consumed by an
electric heater is converted into heat, making them
100 percent efficient. At the power plant, however,
producers burn gas or coal to create the electricity
that eventually fuels your heater. This process is
vastly inefficient, and only about 30 percent of the
energy consumed actually becomes usable electricity. “From a chemist’s point of view, it’s almost
a shame to use so much of a unique and valuable compound to make electricity - which can
be made in so many ways. Someone once said
that using natural gas to make base-load electricity is like using good Scotch to wash the dishes.”
--Samuel Bodman, U.S. Energy Secretary, 2005
Charging More When it Costs Less?
A
ccording to the U.S. Energy Information
Administration in 2014 the vast majority of
the country experienced large increases in
retail electricity prices, as much as 9.9% in New
England. However, power generation fuel costs
have fallen in recent months, especially the cost
of natural gas. These lower costs are likely to offset some of the increases in utilities’ nonfuel costs
and thus slow the rate of retail electricity price increases. EIA’s March edition of the Short-Term
Energy Outlook projects residential electricity
prices will rise by 1.0% during 2015, which would
be the lowest increase since 2010. Amazing when
the good news is you are looking at the lowest
INCREASE in 5 years as natural gas is at 16 year
lows. When you are losing over 2/3 of the possible
energy output before it ever gets
to customers how can you lower rates? Somebody is paying
for those losses and it is not
your electric company. On
the bright side with natural
gas at historical lows your
cost of gas went down and
more of your money will be
staying at home. When was
the last time your electricity
rates went down?
Natural Gas News January 2016
Page 2
Community Calendar
Ruidoso-Lincoln County Adult Literacy offers free one on one tutoring to adults who
need help with reading and math. They are also looking for individuals who would like
to tutor. Call Deborah Abingdon 575-258-3704 for information.
Ruidoso Optimist Club is having Warm Coats for Kids drive through end of January
collecting new or gently used warm coats for children and youth. Coats may be left at
Club Gas, City Bank, Evergreen Cleaners, Lawrence brothers, Compass bank, Pioneer
bank, First Christian Church, Otero federal Credit Union, First Savings Bank, Ruidoso
Chamber of Commerce Center and Senior/Community Center, Ruidoso Ford/Lincoln,
and Washington Federal Bank. In Carrizozo boxes are in Lincoln County Courthouse
Manager’s office and County Clerk’s office.
January 11-30 – Raton - Shades of the Southwest Youth Art Show. Submissions due by 2pm
Sat. Jan 9th at the historic Old Pass Gallery. Contact school’s art teacher or home school
students contact City of Raton Dept. of Parks and Recreation for submitting a piece of art.
Reception is 1-22 from 3-5pm Old Pass Gallery 145 South 1st Street Raton.
January 29 – Hobbs - Middle School Musical at R.N Tydings Auditorium from 6-7pm. High
School Theatre Studio Class will direct over 30 local middle school students in an original
musical presentation. This event is free to the public. The Middle School Musical residency
in Hobbs is presented locally by Hobbs Municipal Schools with support from the Fine Arts
Education Act of New Mexico and Hobbs High School Theatre Department.
Reminder: We use this section for our local communities. The messages must be non-partisan,
non-religious and non-profit. Please send the information to [email protected] before the
10th of the month to make the following month edition. Thank you.
Zia Natural Gas Company area offices:
Lincoln County
100 Short Drive
Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346
575-378-4277
1-800-520-4277
(575) 378-4138 Fax
Mailing Address
PO Box 888
Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346
Maxwell-Cimarron-Springer
316 Maxwell Ave.
Maxwell, NM 87728
575-375-2277
1-800-520-4277
(575) 375-2753 Fax
Mailing Address
PO Box 357
Maxwell, NM 87728
Hobbs/Jal
510 E. Bender
Hobbs, NM 88240
575-392-4277
1-800-470-9900
(575) 392-8504 Fax
Mailing Address
PO Box 2220
Hobbs, NM 88241
Dona Ana County
3700 W. Picacho Ave.
Las Cruces, NM 88007
575-526-4427
1-800-453-5546
(575) 523-4945 Fax
Mailing Address
3700 W. Picacho Ave.
Las Cruces, NM 88007
Sniffy DOs and DON’Ts!
It’s important for you to do your part to make a safe fuel
even safer.
Here are some SNIFFY DOs and SNIFFY DON’Ts for
natural gas safety.
DO:
DON’T:
• Learn all you can about natural gas.
The more you know...the more you
will be safe.
• Use your nose. If you ever detect
even a small amount of the odor of
natural gas in the air, don’t stay—
get away. Then, contact your natural gas provider. If you don’t know
that number, dial emergency services, 9-1-1.
• Look for the blue flame. If pilot lights
and burners have a steady, blue
flame, they are operating correctly.
• Have all gas appliances, furnaces,
vents, flues, chimneys and gas
lines in your home or business inspected every year or two by qualified industry professionals.
• Keep the areas around all appliances and equipment clean and unblocked to allow for proper air flow.
• Ever let small children play with
or near natural gas appliances or
pipes, even the knobs on the oven
or cooktop.
• Use your stove or oven for anything
other than cooking (for instance, to
heat your home, under any circumstances.
• Move or install a gas appliance or
change the connector in any way
without professional assistance.
• Use a vent-free heater unless the
automatic cut-off switch is operational.
• Install a gas appliance yourself, unless you area a qualified contractor. Instead, you should always
seek professional assistance.
• Ever store household chemicals or
combustible materials near gas appliances.
Above all, don’t forget to learn what to do if you ever smell natural gas in the
air: SMELL GAS? ACT FAST! Don’t forget to come by our offices and get your
Sniffasaurus 2016 Safety Calendars and Activity books.
OUR NEW WEBSITE IS UP AND RUNNING AND YOU
CAN NOW LOOK UP YOUR BILL AND USAGE ONLINE!
New Mexico’s Natural
Choice...
Zia Natural Gas Company
Same name,
Same great Company for
over 20 years now
Did You Know?
» It’s dinner time! A national survey
shows that 80 percent of Canadian
executive chefs prefer cooking
with natural gas, according to the
Canadian Gas Association. Chefs
cited the speed and the outstanding
quality of natural gas as the top two
reasons they prefer cooking with
natural gas.
Natural Gas
News
is an official publication of
Zia Natural Gas Company
Published monthly
Aaron Dunn
Business Development Manager
[email protected]