Consumer watchdog Jamie Court discusses why many Southern California natural gas customers are seeing massive spikes in their bills this month.

LOS ANGELES - If you've noticed your Southern California Gas bill double or even triple compared to what you were paying last year - you're not the only one. 

Earlier this month, SoCalGas issued a statement warning customers of the soaring costs due to a number of factors, including historically high natural gas prices in the western United States, along with widespread, below-normal temperatures on much of the West Coast and high demand for heating by customers in areas with below normal temperatures. 

Keep in mind that SoCalGas does not set the price for natural gas. Rather, the prices are determined by national and regional markets. SoCal Gas then buys natural gas in those markets on behalf of residential and small business customers, with that cost billed to customers with no markup, the company said. 

To help combat the skyrocketing costs, SoCalGas recommends its customers review the following tips to help save both energy and money.

Setting up Bill Tracker Alerts can help you monitor your consumption to help gauge the amount of your next bill. Enrolling is easy - complete an energy profile through SoCalGas' Ways to Save online tool, which will give you a personalized plan to track progress and determine the best approach to help lower your energy usage.

SoCalGas offers several bill payment options. If you would like to spread out your monthly costs, they offer a Level Pay Plan, which averages your natural gas usage and costs over 12 months.

The company also offers rebates and incentives for upgrades made to home energy-efficient appliances and equipment.

The Gas Assistance Fund offers a one-time grant to help customers pay natural gas bills. The funds are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and eligible customers are able to apply until the funds are depleted. You can learn more here.

Other customer assistance programs through SoCalGas are also available for qualifying residential customers. The CARE program offers a 20% bill discount, the Energy Savings Assistance Program offers no-cost home improvements, and customers with a qualifying medical condition may be eligible for additional natural gas at the lowest baseline rate through the Medical Baseline Allowance Program.

Heating is the one of the top energy expenses for most customers. In fact heating can account for more than half of your total natural gas bill. Upgrading to a more energy-efficient model can help you save money.

Choosing an energy-efficient clothes washer and following a few simple tips can save you money on your natural gas, electricity and water bills. 

Natural gas clothes dryers are more energy-efficient than electric ones. They are generally less expensive to operate. If you have an old, inefficient dryer replacing it with a new, more efficient gas model could save you up to 20 percent in energy savings.

For a warm and cozy atmosphere, consider installing a natural gas fireplace insert, which can also provide a heating source for a room.

Natural gas pool and spa heaters use less energy and heat water faster than electric heaters. You can help save on energy costs by following a few simple steps.

Natural gas is the number-one choice for chefs and it’s no wonder it’s instant on instant off and distributes heat evenly.

Leaky ducts can waste energy used to heat and cool your home. In fact leaky ducts can cost you between 10 to 30 percent in heating & cooling costs.

Choosing an energy-efficient air conditioning and heating system and following a few simple tips can save you money on your electric bills.

Refrigerators can eat up more energy than any electrical kitchen appliance in your home. New, efficient models use about half the electricity compared to older refrigerators.

Natural gas patio heaters utilize radiant heat warming objects instead of the air surrounding them. When shopping for a heater, be aware of the size of the area to be heated. 

The efficiency of patio heaters is affected by the wind so it's best to install them in a sheltered area providing specified minimum clearances for combustibles. 

Permanently mounted directional natural gas patio heaters can be installed in eaves along walls or on specially designed posts and are less affected by air movement adding to their efficiency.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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