In the depths of winter last year, it took over $500 per month to keep us warm thanks to skyrocketing natural gas prices. As the days get darker and the chill starts to creep in in the parts of the country where we have four seasons, it's time to start considering this once again.

I'm getting a lot of mail telling me I can lock in my natural gas rate for the next year if I go with one company or another. Problem is, the lock-in rates are higher than the current rate, yet less than the rate we were paying last winter. Further, I've been reading that this winter is expected to be milder than last and that there is a glut of natural gas.

Now, taken together, this would lead you to believe that locking in a rate that's above the current rate isn't smart. But what if the prognosticators are wrong, as they often are? What if it's as cold as a witch's... you know... and gas prices start climbing? I do not want to deal with another $500 gas bill two weeks after Christmas, and another one to show up in February.

So we're unsure. Actually, I'm unsure. My wife says no lock-in, while I'm still thinking I'd like the peace of mind.

Whaddya think? If you pay for gas, what are you doing this year?