Robyn Lydick
Heard enough about climbing gasoline prices? Well, natural gas
prices are climbing, and by law Xcel Energy has to pass the cost
along to you, the consumer.
But it isn’t as bad as experts expected during the summer. In
June, natural gas companies and utility companies sat down with the
Colorado Public Utilities Commission and talked pricing.
Then, the expectation based on the market was a 30 percent to 50
percent increase in natural gas costs for the winter quarter.
Xcel filed Sept. 17 for an estimated 12 percent increase.
~Typical residential customers can expect to pay $151.71 in
December 2008, compared to $135.18 in December 2007, based on use
of 143.8 therms. “Therm” is a measurement of heat. One therm equals
100,000 Btu — British thermal units. Typical small-business
customers would pay $698.53 in December 2008, compared to $622.14
in December 2007, based on use of 679.5 therms.
The projections reflect an expected increase in the market price
of natural gas locally and expected normal winter weather patterns.
Forecasters with the Climate Prediction Center expect temperatures
to be above normal for the next three months and average
temperatures for January through March.
Actual natural gas rates to be charged by Xcel Energy in
December 2008 remain subject to the Monthly Gas Cost Adjustment,
which will be filed in mid-November 2008.
