This Thursday Jan. 23, 2014 file photo, shows the Public Service Company of New Hampshire's Merrimack Station in Bow, N.H. The price of natural gas is up sharply in recent days after winter forecasts turned much chillier, and electricity prices are already much higher than last year in many places. Photo: Jim Cole, AP This winter was expected to bring much lower bills than last year because it wasn't supposed to be so darn cold.