Tim writes:
Gas prices always rise during heating season, while electrical is
regulated by the government.

Be careful about generalized statements like this; this
particular one is not universally true. In Massachusetts, for
example, both electricity and natural gas rates are regulated
by the government, in the sense that the utilities need to get
permission from the regulatory authorities before raising
rates, but the authorities rarely reject a rate increase when
it is legitimately due to increased fossil-fuel costs.