Metro mom of two seeking answers after ONG bill spike
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - A single mother of 2 kids is seeking answers after her Oklahoma Natural Gas bill spiked over $400 in the span of a few months. The problem is, she doesn't know why and claims ONG doesn't either. However, they still want her to pay for it.
"What am I going to do if they turn off my gas? How am I going to have heat? How am I going to take care of my kids?" Tammy told KFOR on Friday.
Those are the questions that have been rattling through Tammy's mind recently. Her natural gas bill usually runs around $80, which is what it was on her March bill. But on her most recent bill for July it' jumped to $530. In between, her monthly bills rose from $154 on her April bill, $213 on her May bill and $308 on her June bill.
"I didn't get new appliances. I didn't increase my gas or anything," Tammy said.
Last March, her gas was actually off for a few days due to line maintenance, so she was surprised to see a huge jump in her gas usage. Her usage chart shows her 2024 bills in dark blue, which are low along with her usage which is in yellow. The light blue indicates this years bills, which climbed along with her usage, which is in orange. She eventually called ONG to her home hoping to resolve the problem in early June.
"They said, There's no gas leak, there's no water leak, everything's fine," she said.
They couldn't explain why her March bill showed higher usage, when her gas use hadn't changed and she had no gas service for four days. They didn't know why the other bills were high either. Tammy said this week, ONG told her it wasn't on their end.
"They said there's nothing they can do to adjust it.," she said. "That's what it feels like, is that I'm paying for the entire neighborhood."
We reached out to ONG to see what the issue is. You can read their full statement below.
"At Oklahoma Natural Gas, we take every customer concern seriously. While we do not share specific account details, our teams respond quickly and safely to investigate any reported issue. Safety is always our top priority, and we work diligently to identify potential gas leaks, inspect equipment, and maintain clear communication throughout the process. We understand that higher-than-expected bills can create financial stress, and we’re here to help. Our billing and payment options include the Average Payment Plan, the Voluntary Fixed-Price Program, and referrals to financial assistance programs. To explore available resources, visit: OklahomaNaturalGas.com/pay-bill/billing-options."
Tammy said there's no way she can shoulder these bills and seeking legal help may be her next step.