If you received a proposed rate increase notice for your Atmos natural gas bill, here is what you need to know and do NOW to protect your pocketbook.

KNOW:

Atmos is proposing a 16% increase for residential customers, but only a 11% increase for their commercial customers.

The Texas Railroad Commission (which is totally beholden to oil & gas) is the primary authority for filing complaints regarding utility rate hikes. Although they are likely to make a token reduction to reduce this increase, you can be sure a large increase will be approved.

The Republican Primary runoff election is May 26 between Jim Wright (incumbent) and Bo French (heavily funded by hardline conservative donors). Should Bo French win, you can be sure he will reward his mega-donors & I'll let you guess who these are and where there interest lie.

The General election for RRC is in November and the Democratic candidate is Jon Rosenthal, but the last time a Democrat was elected to RRC was 1990.

DO:

You can and should file a formal on-line complaint with the RRC opposing this increase https://www.rrc.texas.gov/gas-services/complaint-filing/customer-complaint/ even though this is not sufficient

If you live within city limits, the city council often has jurisdiction over rate changes. Contact your city mayor and city council representative as well

Finally, Atmos knows very well that most of their notices go straight to the trash or are never read or understood; so it's most important that you make your friends and neighbors aware of this outrageous rate increase.

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