State estimates lower winter natural gas bills

The Arkansas Public Service Commission said Monday that natural gas bills for Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corp. customers are expected to decline this winter season.

For the customer using 100 ccf (hundred cubic feet) of natural gas, the estimated bill this winter will be $119.47, down from the $123.55 average last winter.  AOG has about 62,000 customers in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma.

Customers of Arkansas Western Gas Co. (primarily in Northwest Arkansas) will see their bill (based on the 100 ccf amount) fall to $101.86 from the $109.09 of last winter.

However, customers of CenterPoint Energy (serving most of central Arkansas) will see higher natural gas bills this winter. Rates for CenterPoint customers using 100 ccf will be $141.10 this winter compared to $130.53 last winter.

"The estimated bills are based upon the best information currently available from each of the natural gas utilities and reflect the anticipated natural gas commodity costs that will be reflected on gas bills during the winter heating season," noted the commission’s press release.