If there's no competition there's no reason to provide better services at better prices, and then it might as well be socialised to prevent standards from falling.
I’m all for competition, and if another gas company wants to invest and install their own pipes, kudos to them. The issue becomes when government allows other companies to use the same pipeline that the original company invested in to deliver service. That’s what put Bell out of business with phone lines. Bell did the installation of all the phone lines, but government allowed other companies to offer service using Bell’s lines to offer service. Of course they could offer lower prices, they didn’t have the up-front costs to recoup.
Secondly, competition already exists, electricity. If the cost of gas is prohibitive, the homeowner can swap to electric.
Having a utility provided by a private business that has a monopoly can work PROVIDED that the appropriate level government has to approve any price increases. I don't know about other US states, but I would presume they generally do like where I grew up: if the Electrical company wanted to increase their prices, they had to explain why to the state legislature, who had the authority to approve/disapprove/modify their request.
If the gas utility company mentioned in the post is charging what appears to be too much, the city needs to step in and either 1) force the gas company to lower their prices, or 2) have a public explanation as to WHY they charge what they do.
Secondly, competition already exists, electricity. If the cost of gas is prohibitive, the homeowner can swap to electric.
If the gas utility company mentioned in the post is charging what appears to be too much, the city needs to step in and either 1) force the gas company to lower their prices, or 2) have a public explanation as to WHY they charge what they do.