Can you help me?

Q: I received a large gas bill in the mail. Can you tell me how it is calculated?

A: All of Aichi, Gifu, and Mie prefectures - except for the Toyohashi and Gamagori areas are served by Toho Gas. Prices are generally higher in the winter months (December to March) than during the rest of the year. The price per cubic meter is also updated every three months (January, April, July, & October) to reflect domestic market prices.

The amount of cubic meters you use depends upon three factors; 1) how much hot water you use and how much cooking you do, 2) the water temperature differential – it takes more gas to heat up water to 40 degrees on a cold day than it does on a hot day, and 3) the efficiency of the appliances you are using - a new cooker is usually more efficient than its older counterpart.

Your monthly household gas bill is not only based on how many cubic meters of gas you use but also includes a base rate. So even if you use no gas at all, you will still be charged the base rate and receive a bill. The prices set by Toho gas for October to December are shown below. So if you used 28 cubic meters of gas in November then your monthly bill would be the monthly base rate (1837.50) + the cost for each cubic meter used (132.46 x 28) - rounded up to the nearest Yen – giving a total bill of 5,547 Yen.

Water bills are calculated in a similar fashion with a base rate and cost per cubic meter of water used; prices and rates for water usage are managed by the Nagoya City Waterworks and Sewerage Bureau. Bills are issued once every two months. A full English explanation is available on their website at www.water.city.nagoya.jp/english.