|
Atmos bills to fall 37 percent
Oct 31, 2009 (Messenger-Inquirer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Kentucky's natural gas customers are expected to see their heating bills drop an average of 39 percent in November from the same period last year, the Kentucky Public Service Commission said Friday.
For Atmos Energy customers, like those in the Owensboro area, the PSC said, the savings should be around 37 percent.
The agency said the average Atmos customer spent $131.24 on natural gas in November 2008.
Next month's average bill is expected to be about $82.18 -- a savings of $49.06, the PSC said.
"Natural gas prices have come down considerably from the artificially high levels of last year," PSC Chairman David Armstrong said in a news release. "Furthermore, there is reason to think that we may see relatively stable prices for the next several years."
He said wholesale prices are at their lowest levels in at least six years and are less than half the peak prices seen in 2008.
The amount of natural gas in storage for the winter "is at historically high levels," the PSC said.
"That suggests adequate supplies and stable prices through the heating season, unless there is widespread and extreme cold weather," the agency said.
But Armstrong said, "Lower energy prices do not negate the wisdom of taking steps that will reduce energy consumption in the long term."
Last year's spike in wholesale natural gas prices was the second in three years, the PSC said.
The 2008 increase, the agency said, "appeared to be the result of speculative investments in commodity markets, including natural gas."
Kentucky's five major natural gas companies expect their adjusted wholesale cost this November to be an average of $5.61 per 1,000 cubic feet -- down $6.09 or 52 percent from an average of $11.70 a year ago -- the PSC said.
About 44 percent of Kentuckians heat their homes with natural gas. Those who heat with propane (10 percent) and fuel oil (3 percent) also will be paying less than a year ago, the PSC said.
The 39 percent of Kentuckians who use electric heat are expected to see little change in their energy bills this winter, the agency said.
In Daviess County, the Census Bureau says, 70.7 percent of homes are heated by natural gas, 23.2 percent with electricity and 5 percent with propane.
To see more of the Messenger-Inquirer, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.messenger-inquirer.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Messenger-Inquirer,
Owensboro, Ky. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For
reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or
847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group
Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
|
TMCnet LOGIN
Webinars
