Billing Frequently Asked Questions
What payment options are available to me?
Where can I mail a payment?
How often will I receive a bill?
Why do I receive estimated bills?
How do you estimate bills?
How can I avoid estimated bills?
What if I need help paying my bill?
What if my bill is higher than normal?
How can I budget my gas costs?
What payment options are available to me?
To avoid high winter heating bills, you can stretch out your heating costs throughout the year and pay in equal monthly installments. Just sign up for our Equalizer Budget Payment Plan. Simply pay the Equalizer amount that appears on your gas bills during the months of August through February, instead of the total amount due, and you're automatically enrolled. No phone calls or enrollment forms are required! We will then estimate your annual gas costs and divide this total into equal monthly bills. If you're interested in signing up from March through July, please call 1-800-882-5454. Credit restrictions may apply.
Another payment option, Direct Payment, allows you to pay your gas bill automatically each month. Sign up and your gas payment will automatically be withdrawn from your bank account. You will receive a gas bill before each withdrawal is made, so you know in advance how much is being deducted from your account.
You may combine the two payment options above, our Equalizer "Budget" Payment Plan and Direct Payment, and make bill paying both predictable and hassle-free!
For special payment arrangements, please call 1-800-688-6160.
Where can I mail a payment?
Send payments to:
Bay State Gas
PO Box 830014
Baltimore MD 21283-0014
How often will I receive a bill?
You will receive a gas bill every month.
Why do I receive estimated bills?
The company has most of its customers connected to an automated meter reading system, so we can acquire accurate meter readings every month -- regardless of whether of not you're home -- and you can avoid estimated bills. Your gas bill will indicate if you are connected to our automated system.
If you are not yet connected to our system, your bill will be estimated during months when your meter is not scheduled to be read, or during those months when we cannot gain access to your gas meter. Your gas bill will indicate whether the meter reading is an estimated or an actual read.
How do you estimate bills?
Gas bill estimates are based on the types of gas appliances you use and the amount of gas you used during a similar period last year. If you have gas heat, estimates are adjusted for actual weather conditions.
How can I avoid estimated bills?
To avoid estimated bills, send us your meter reading on the meter read call-in date that appears on your bill.
What if I need help paying my bill?
If you're having difficulty paying your gas bill, please call us at 800-688-6160 to work out a payment schedule. Depending on your income level, you may be eligible for financial assistance programs.
What if my bill is higher than normal?
If you think your bill is higher than normal, there could be several reasons, including: extremely cold weather, extra cooking, extra clothes drying, more frequent or longer showers or baths, leaky hot water faucets or previous low estimates.
If none of these reasons satisfies you, check your meter and compare the current reading with the meter reading listed on your bill. If the two numbers are close, your bill is correct. Note that if the new reading is higher than the reading on your bill, it means you have used additional gas since your bill.
How can I budget my gas costs?
To avoid high winter heating bills, you can stretch out your heating costs throughout the year and pay in equal monthly installments. Just sign up for our Equalizer Budget Payment Plan. Simply pay the Equalizer amount that appears on your gas bills during the month of July, instead of the total amount due, and you're automatically enrolled. No phone calls or enrollment forms are required! We will then estimate your annual gas costs and divide this total into equal monthly bills. If you're interested in signing up at other times of the year, please call 1-800-882-5454. Credit restrictions may apply.
Once you sign up, your bills will compare your actual gas use with your budgeted use. We'll review your account periodically and, if necessary, make adjustments.
