Gas heat bills may drop if N.C. OKs proposal

[Thom Little]

After months of record prices, natural gas bills should fall next month for Charlotte-area residents.

The area's two dominant natural gas utilities, Piedmont Natural Gas and PSNC Energy, have asked N.C. regulators to drop the companies' rates about 11 percent following a steep fall in wholesale prices in the past two weeks.

Customers would save an average of $21 to $23 a month during the winter heating season that runs through March, compared with current rates.

Even with the decrease, utility rates remain more than 60 percent higher than a year ago. Customers will still spend an average of about $200 more the remainder of this winter season.


http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/13521523.htm