Clearwater Gas System

Natural Gas

Understanding your natural gas bill

Clearwater Gas System reads each natural gas meter every month and issues a monthly bill based on the meter reading. Our meter readers make every effort to read your meter accurately and safely each month. Please help us to serve you by keeping the meter location uncluttered and accessible for meter reading and maintenance. Please restrain your dog while we are visiting your location. To inquire about when your meter will be read, please call Clearwater Customer Service at (727) 562-4600, M-F from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Natural gas is metered in units of hundreds of cubic feet (CCF). This is a measure of the volume of natural gas that is used. To determine CCF consumption, the previous month's meter reading is subtracted from the current meter reading. The result is the monthly CCF consumption.

Natural gas is sold in units of energy called therms. Each CCF of natural gas contains the energy value of approximately 1 therm. Since the energy value of natural gas varies slightly, a conversion factor is applied to the CCF consumption to determine the therm consumption. This conversion factor is supplied by our gas supplier to account for the slight variations of the energy content of the natural gas that is delivered to Clearwater Gas System. The customer billing statement details this calculation. The product of the CCF consumption multiplied by the conversion factor yields the therm consumption, which is the basis for the monthly natural gas bill.

KEY PARTS OF YOUR NATURAL GAS BILL:

1. Customer Service Phone Number
Contact our customer service department by calling this number.

2. Account Number
A unique 7-digit number assigned to your account. Please refer to this number when contacting us.

3. Meter Read Date
Specified timeframe that meter reading occurs.

4. Customer Charge
This is a monthly charge, regardless of how much gas is used, to cover the fixed costs associated with maintaining a gas service account including meter reading, billing and administrative costs.

5. Non-fuel
This charge includes the costs of delivering natural gas to your service location. Included are costs associated with the operation and maintenance of the distribution system as well as the costs of complying with governmental and environmental regulations, and encouraging the use of natural gas as an environmentally-friendly, energy efficient alternative.

6. Fuel
This is the charge to cover the cost of fuel used by the customer. This is the actual cost of fuel from our suppliers. Clearwater Gas is not allowed to make a profit on this charge. This is a direct pass through to the customer.

7. State Gross Receipts Tax
This is a tax levied by and paid to the State on the sale of utility services.

8. Sales Tax
Applicable to non-residential customers only, 6% is levied by and remitted to the State. Non-residential customers in Pinellas County are charged an additional 1% local option sales tax.

9. Franchise Fee
This is a fee paid to local governments who have agreements with Clearwater Gas System to operate within their jurisdictions.

10. Utility Tax
This is a tax on the purchase of gas that is levied by and paid to local jurisdictions.

11. Due Date
Your monthly Clearwater Gas bill is due upon receipt and becomes past due 21 days from the statement date. Accounts that are past due will be billed a Late Charge of $3.00 or 2% of the past due amount, whichever is greater. Delinquent accounts are subject to disconnection 30 days from the statement date.

12. Payment Options

Mail: Clearwater Customer Service
PO Box 30020
Tampa, FL 33630-3020

Office: In Person/Drive-Thru/After Hours Drop Box
Municipal Services Building
100 South Myrtle Avenue
Clearwater

Direct Debit: Save time, stamps, and check-writing. With Direct Debit, your utility bill is automatically paid from your checking or savings account 10 days after billing and you still receive a monthly statement. Please call Clearwater CustomerService at (727) 562-4600 to enroll.

Pay by Phone: Using Speedpay, Inc., customers can pay utility bills by calling 800-803-5211 (a $4.95 convenience fee applies). Speedpay is an independent contractor with the City of Clearwater to provide phone payment processing services.

For additional information regarding billing, payments, or requests for turn-ons and turn-offs, please call Clearwater Customer Service at (727) 562-4600, Monday - Friday, 8am to 5pm (excluding holidays).