Winter heating costs 18% less than last winter

We are lowering our forecast for residential customers’ heating bills this winter. Based on normal winter weather for the remaining six weeks of winter and the price of natural gas remaining where it is today on the spot market, we expect the average residential customer to pay approximately $540 in total winter heating costs.

This would be:

• 18 percent ($120) less than the average residential customer paid last winter ($660).
• 29 percent ($223) less than the most recent five-year average ($763).
• 38 percent ($338) less than the cost of the most expensive winter (2007-08 - $878).
• Less than any of the previous nine winters.

The average residential customer has paid $391 in winter heating costs through February, which is:

• 20 percent ($100) less than the costs for the November through February time period last winter ($491).
• 33 percent ($192) less than the most recent five-year average through February ($583).
• 41 percent ($269) less than the cost of the most expensive November through February time period. (2008-09 - $660). 
• Less than any of the previous nine November through February time periods.