Consumers may want to review their gas supply options as their current contracts expire, the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC) advised, following up on announcements late last month that Columbia Gas of Ohio and Dominion East Ohio have filed requests to lower their regulated gas rates for the upcoming quarter beginning October 26.

Due to falling natural gas prices over the past few months, both suppliers said they are now able to lower their gas costs. Columbia said that it will reduce its gas cost to $0.4816 cents per 100 cubic feet — a drop of 20% over last year (see Daily GPI, Sept. 28). At the new lower cost, the monthly bill for the average residential customer using 14,800 cubic feet of gas a month is estimated to be $106, about $40 less than last winter, the company said. Dominion said its customers will pay $5.384/Mcf, down 12.8% from the current $6.17/Mcf and down 25% from the $7.18/Mcf they paid during the third quarter last year (see Daily GPI, Sept. 27).

The OCC said customers participating in the choice programs offered by Columbia Gas of Ohio and Dominion East Ohio do not pay the regulated rate. Instead, customers pay for natural gas based on agreements with competitive suppliers.

“Natural gas customers with supplier agreements coming up for renewal should be aware of changes in the price of gas as winter approaches,” said Robert S. Tongren, OCC. “Our office can provide information on natural gas prices and competitive options to help them make an educated decision.” The rate changes were filed with Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).

Tongren said residential consumers evaluating their options for winter should consider that:

For more Ohio natural gas choice information, or to resolve a problem with the utility, the OCC urged residential utility customers to call 1-877-PICK OCC.

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