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Major Factors

What Factors Influence Natural Gas Use in Michigan?

Several factors can influence your monthly natural gas use. These factors can be measured by Public Service, and we summarize them on your monthly bill.

• Billing Days. Public Service makes every effort to read your meter once a month. The number of days between the monthly meter readings may vary slightly — it won't be exactly 30 or 31 days each time. Your bill shows the number of billing days included and how that compares with the same month last year.
• Average Daily Temperature. Weather can play a significant role in how much natural gas you use. During a cold winter when more heating is required, your use may be higher. During a mild winter, your use may be down. The average daily temperature is shown on your bill for easy reference to how temperatures this month compare with the same month last year.
• Degree Days. Degree days measure how much higher or lower the average daily temperature is compared with a base of 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The average daily temperature is subtracted from 65 degrees. The higher the Heating Degree Days, the more likely your heating system needed to run to warm your home. In summer, your bill reports Cooling Degree Days. It reflects how much temperatures during the month were above 65 degrees. The higher the Cooling Degree Days, the more likely that air conditioning was needed.
• % Warmer or % Cooler. Your bill shows what percentage warmer or cooler it was this month compared with the same month last year. This percentage is calculated based on the number of degree days this year compared with last year.
• Therms Used and Average Therms/Day. Therms are a measure of the heat content of the gas you use. Your bill shows how many therms were used this year compared with last year — and the average number of therms used each day.