XPost: can.internet.highspeed   
   From: Some@Guy.com   
      
   Some Guy wrote:   
      
   > I'm thinking of discontinuing Union Gas service starting now, and   
   > resuming it again in October / November at a location that only   
   > uses natural gas for a furnace.   
      
   Union Gas will do something called:   
      
   - Temporary seal - Turn off (Seasonal) - $22   
   - Temporary seal - Turn on (Seasonal) - $38   
      
   With tax, that comes to about $64.   
      
   When I look at the last few years of bills, looking for just the months   
   I was charged the minimum monthly charge, I see this:   
      
   2005: 3 months (July, Aug, Sept) - $14.98/month   
   2006: 3 months (July, Aug, Sept) - $14.84/month   
   2007: 4 months (July, Aug, Sept, Oct) - $16.96/month   
   2008: 3 months (July, Aug, Sept) - $17.85/month   
   2009: 5 months (July, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov) - $18.90/month   
      
   For 2010, the basic monthly charge is $19 ($19.95 including gst) and   
   when the hst is applied this would be $21.47.  Three months of basic   
   charges ($64.41) would be equivalent to the cost to perform a seasonal   
   turn-off and turn-on.   
      
   The one thing that puts me off a little about this is that they say that   
   they'd come in and re-light the pilot light when they turn on the gas   
   (or to otherwise make sure that there's no problem inside the premises   
   when the gas starts flowing).  Sort of like an inspection.  I just don't   
   want them to look at my 30 year old furnace and find some trumped up   
   problem with it.   
      
   I've turned the gas off at the furnace for about the past 3 weeks (had   
   to turn it on last night - the temp inside the building got to about 62f   
   on sunday night) and I don't think I'm going to need any more gas this   
   summer.   
      
   Even if I save $20, it's the principle that counts.  This basic monthly   
   charge by Union Gas is bullshit.  What it's for is not explained.  It's   
   a hidden tax and more people should complain about it.  For 2 or 3   
   months out of the year, what I pay just for the gas is less than this   
   god dam basic charge.   
      
   If I could, I'd store some natural gas in a low-pressure tank and use   
   that for 2 or 3 months of the year, further extending the seasonal   
   turn-off period.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)