Levelize

Industry Briefs

The American Gas Association (AGA) predicted that consumers will enjoy lower gas bills this winter compared with last year. “With natural gas storage at all time highs and prices well below past years, homeowners across the nation are in for some well-deserved relief from high energy costs when heating their homes this winter,” said AGA CEO David Parker. The Potential Gas Committee, a volunteer group of scientists and energy experts, reported in June that there is enough natural gas in the United States to supply the country for at least a century. New and advanced exploration of shale basins and other gas sources has led to an unprecedented amount of natural gas available on the marketplace, AGA noted. Piedmont Natural Gas said its annual forecast of winter heating costs for customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee shows that residential customers could see a reduction in winter heating costs of 10-20% compared to last year. For the typical residential customer, the reductions could result in savings of $15-25/month during the winter, the company said.

October 12, 2009