Natural Gas Price Estimated 11% Higher than 1 Year Ago

By 810 WGY News
Saturday, October 4, 2008

NATIONAL GRID IS OUT WITH ITS ANNUAL WINTER HEATING FORECAST FOR THOSE WHO USE NATURAL GAS. AND, WHILE IT WILL COST MORE...AN ESTIMATED 11%MORE, IT'S A FAR CRY FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHEN MANY ANALYSTS WERE SAYING NATURAL GAS WOULD BE AS MUCH AS 50% MORE EXPENSIVE THAN LAST WINTER. COMPANY OFFICIALS SAY LAST YEAR, THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER PAID ABOUT $1,063. THIS YEAR, THE AVERAGE BILL SHOULD COME TO $1,181. COMPANY OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS. THE BUDGET PLAN IS ONE POSSIBILITY, AND THERE ARE SPECIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR HEAP. EVEN TURNING DOWN THE THERMOSTAT ONE DEGREE, SHE SAYS, CAN SAVE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF ENERGY. CUSTOMERS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THEIR WINTER HEATING BILLS SHOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH NATIONAL GRID AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.