The Rider WNA is intended to stabilize customer bills despite seasonal changes.
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Although North Texas experienced relatively balmy weather last month, gas utility bills ended up higher than expected for many customers.
Atmos, however, has an explanation.
Check your bill for the “Rider WNA” — or the “Weather Normalization Adjustment.” In an email to Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter Elizabeth Campbell, Atmos explained that the Rider WNA is included in residential and commercial bills from November to April, when usage may be higher than usual because of cold weather.
Based on historic usage patterns, the WNA is supposed to make bills more stable and predictable for customers despite seasonal changes. When the weather is colder than normal, the WNA amount reflects a credit. When the weather is warmer, the WNA reflects a surcharge.
“Industry regulators identify the total number of dollars a company can collect through rates to recover their cost to serve customers. Base rates, comprised of the customer charge and consumption charge, are set using expected weather based on 10-year averages,” Atmos explained to the Fort Worth newspaper.
The WNA adjustment, which the North Texas gas utility explained is standard in the industry, “helps to offset gas usage to reflect normal outdoor temperatures during the heating season,” according to the Star-Telegram.