National Fuel customers to see rate increase

From staff reports

National Fuel customers will see an increase in their latest natural gas heating bills.

National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. announced Thursday that the monthly bill for a typical residential customer in northwestern Pennsylvania will increase $1.46 from $72.63 to $74.09.

This 2.01 percent hike takes effect today as part of the utility’s quarterly adjustment to gas supply charges.

National Fuel’s price-to-compare gas commodity charge also will increase to $0.45035 per ccf.

This reference point, detailed on the National Fuel bill under gas supply charges, is important for customers who are shopping for an alternate gas supplier, according to a press release from National Fuel.

Pennsylvania utility companies are permitted to update gas supply charges on a quarterly basis to reflect changes in the market price of natural gas.

The next opportunity to adjust gas supply charges will be May 1.

National Fuel said in its press release that market prices of natural gas remain near historic lows when compared to the previous 10 years due to the large supply of shale gas.

Nearly all the gas consumed by National Fuel utility customers comes from Pennsylvania-produced shale gas, the press release said.