Damage in 2005 drove natural gas prices up. Also, the absence of severe hurricanes so far in 2006 has resulted in the November natural gas market prices being significantly lower than this time last year. In general the market prices for gas in November tend be higher than in October because the market anticipates an increase in gas demand at the start of the winter heating season PG&E's has also implemented a natural gas purchasing strategy that helps protect customers against severe winter price spikes, which in combination with conservation, can help customers control the size of their monthly natural gas bills.