LINCOLN- Residents of Pender were shocked to open monthly bills that ballooned from $200-$250 to nearly $900. Neligh, a town farther west, usually pays about $50,000 for its monthly gas supply, but the latest bill was 30 times that-- $1.5 million. Gas prices paid by communities shot up because of a high demand and a lack of supply during last month's cold snap. Towns are working with residents who are unable to pay a $900 heating bill.

MUD said that even though natural gas prices rose by 50% during the polar vortex, the district was able to moderate the impact on residential customers by using reserves instead of buying high-cost gas offered on the spot during the emergency. Because of this, residents in the metro will only see a rise of $17.21 for their February gas bill.

Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha said his Urban Affairs Committee will consider advancing a bill that would provide $10 million in emergency aid to communities that got 'gouged' to pay off their natural gas bills.

The state PSC has scheduled hearings for April that will hear testimonies about if it is possible for bills to be paid over several months.

“We may have to change business practices,” said Ryan Hurst, utilities manager in Wahoo. “It’s better than getting burned for a half a million dollars.”

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