@EdTheHeaterMan you misunderstood me. I’m saying in a scenario where the options are: pay a fixed fee for gas and a variable fee for gas, if my only applicance is a gas water heater, then the fixed fee enters the equation. People are not considering ditching electricity, because it’s so intertwined in our lives, so the fixed part of the bill is irrelevant.

What do you mean by the "Fixed"part of the bill? Is that the part that is not associates with the amount of energy used that is measured by the meter, or the part that is not the actual energy portion like the Generation Charge on the electric bill or the BGSS on the gas bill?

I believe that if you pay 100.00 for something then you pay 100.00 for it, regardless what you call the parts of the invoice. But that is just me. I grew up in the Fuel Oil business. We didn't charge $1.00 per gallon for fuel oil then add a delivery charge and a delivery tax and a energy tax and a loading rack fee, and a refinery surcharge and a overhead compensation fee. and a bulk plant operating cost. then give you a $400.00 bill for a 100 gallon delivery of fuel. Then try to convince you that you oil only cost $1.00 per gallon.

I believe that if I advertised

FUEL OIL FOR SALE $1.00 PER GALLON

plus shipping, handling and tax
and everyone else was selling Fuel Oil for $4.00 per gallon, that I might end up in court over this marketing practice.

Just Sayin'