Energy To Create Value
FAQ
If you are currently a Vista residential customer please see the list of frequently asked questions below. If you have additional questions or concerns please send us an email through the “contact us” section of the website and a representative will respond upon receipt.
I didn’t realize I had a choice of who could supply my natural gas. How does it work?
Answer: Natural gas has been deregulated in many parts of the country, including California. Thanks to deregulation, we can supply your natural gas at a discount. Vista has the expertise to buy the natural gas in the competitive open wholesale market at a lower price. We then deliver your natural gas to the PG&E distribution system straight to your home. The switch to Vista is easy. There are no setup or connection fees. PG&E will continue to charge you for gas transmission, but Vista will give you the opportunity to save on your natural gas. As residential customer, your bill will continue to come from PGE, but Vista will appear on the bill as the natural gas supplier.
Is Vista part of PGE?
No, Vista has been approved by PG&E to participate in PG&E’s Core Gas Aggregation Program, but we are not part of PG&E.
How can Vista buy Natural Gas cheaper than a large utility?
The natural gas wholesale market is extremely competitive with hundreds of producer and suppliers connected by miles and miles of pipelines. A low overhead and aggressive cost acquisition strategy allows Vista to focus solely on finding the cheapest gas available without the bureaucratic constraints of a large government regulated utility. Our strategy is to keep it simple and nimble.
Where do I see my saving on my bill?
The best way to evaluate your savings is a side by side RATE comparison. Both rates are illustrated between the Gas Account Detail page and the 3rd Party Gas Account Detail pages on your monthly bill. Comparing a current month’s bill to a previous month’s bill is not an accurate way to evaluate your savings. Your gas usage and the prevailing rate of natural gas are the two elements within your bill that change month to month. Since natural gas is primarily a heating fuel, one would expect usage and prices to increase in the winter and decrease in the summer. Attached is the PG&E link to help you understand your bill.
http://www.pge.com/myhome/myaccount/explanationofbill/index.shtml
Why am I being billed by both Vista and PGE?
Answer: You are NOT being billed for natural gas twice. Most people do not realize that a significant portion of their monthly gas bill is a gas transportation fee applied to gas as it travels to your home through PG&E’s extensive pipeline grid. PG&E charges each customer a transportation rate in order to cover costs associated with owning and operating a pipeline. This fee applies regardless of who supplies your natural gas, including PG&E. You can review the current natural gas transportation rates on the PG&E website link posted below. As you can see, this transportation rate represents a large portion of your monthly bill – nearly the value of your gas.
The charges on your bill from Vista are for the natural gas only and are different from the PG&E transportation charges. This is the portion of your bill where we aim to save you money. Remember, when PGE was your natural gas provider none of this was apparent because they combine the natural gas and transmission service into one “bundled” charge. On your bill, you will see a box containing your last year’s usage for this same time period.
Question: Does Vista offer a CARE program?
Vista does not offer a CARE program. Being a Vista customer does not mean you cannot participate in the California CARE program. Below is the link and phone number to join the CARE program if you are not currently participating. If you are currently a CARE participant, joining Vista will not disqualify from your current CARE benefits.
