The gas company's "budget plan"

The other day I commented to a friend that I now had to make room in my monthly budget for higher gas bills now that it is getting colder outside. He said that I should sign up for NIPSCO's budget plan in which I pay a flat rate per month and receive a rebate at the end of the year for the gas that I don't use.

The budget plan stinks and I'll tell you why. It's better to sock away money and put it into savings that it is to send it to the gas company. Not only do I receive interest on that money, it's also available should unexpected expense arise.