Natural gas users in the Lehigh Valley will see lower bills this winter, thanks largely to Marcellus shale fracking in Pennsylvania, UGI Utilities Inc. announced Wednesday.
UGI Utilities Inc. responds to elevated gas levels in April 2015 in the area of a vacant home on Coal Street on South Side Easton. (Lehighvalleylive.com file photo)
UGI says its UGI Gas Division purchased gas cost rates will decrease effective Dec. 1, cutting the average residential heating bill by 6.7 percent.
That average monthly bill will decline from $75.84 to $70.76, according to UGI. Combined with previously announced gas cost decreases in March and June, residential customers will pay about $14 less per month than they did last winter, the Reading, Pennsylvania-based utility says.
"More than 90 percent of UGI's natural gas supplies now come from Marcellus shale," Paul Szykman, vice president of rates at UGI, said in a news release. "Our customers are benefitting from this locally produced, plentiful and lower cost supply.
"This seven-year trend of moderating prices means customer bills are about half of what they were at their peak, when the average monthly bill topped $150."
By law, utilities are required to pass the cost of the natural gas they purchase directly through to customers without any markup, UGI says.
UGI invites customers to explore its free budget billing program, which spreads bills out over a 12-month period. In addition, customers with a limited or fixed income may call UGI at 800-844-9276 (800-UGI-WARM) to determine if they are eligible for one of several energy assistance programs. More information is available at ugi.com.
UGI's Gas Division serves 400,000 customers in 15 southeastern Pennsylvania counties, including Lehigh and Northampton.
Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.