NSTAR, which serves 300,000 natural gas customers in eastern and central Massachusetts, has filed a second request to reduce its Cost of Gas Adjustment (CGA), this time by 12%. If approved, the CGA will combine with lower seasonal rates to reduce the bills of a residential customer by $9.00/month. In its filing with the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy (DTE), NSTAR proposed reducing the CGA to 75.01 cents/therm from the current price of 85 cents. The new price would take effect May 1.If the price cut is approved by DTE, the average customer, using 38 therms/month between May and October, will pay about $51.19 per month, down from $60.29, based on current winter rates.

Due to the projected increase in the cost of natural gas for the remaining winter heating season, Laclede Gas Co. reported that natural gas rates have increased for its Missouri customers under a scheduled filing that occurred on March 14. While this rate change is interim subject to refund, Laclede Gas said a residential customer that currently pays approximately $0.71/therm will see an increase to approximately $0.77/therm. The company added that this increase in rates will result in the average residential customer paying approximately 6% more for natural gas in March and April versus what they would pay if current rates did not change. Under tariffs on file with the Missouri Public Service Commission, Laclede Gas is scheduled to make four filings each year (January, March, June and November) to reflect the wholesale supplier cost of natural gas. Laclede Gas serves approximately 630,000 natural gas customers in the state.

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