Piedmont Natural Gas gets approval to lower North Carolina customers’ bills
Piedmont Natural Gas got approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission to reduce customer billing rates beginning this month.
The rate reduction stems from a decrease in the market cost of natural gas. This translates into a savings of approximately $2.37 per month, or $28.40 per year, for the average North Carolina residential customer.
“Piedmont purchases natural gas at the best price possible, which benefits our customers,” said Sasha Weintraub, senior vice president and president of Piedmont Natural Gas. “Thanks to the downward trend in the cost of natural gas, we’re able to provide additional relief to customers.”
Piedmont requests periodic rate adjustments to reflect fluctuations in the market price of the natural gas it purchases for its customers. This is the second rate reduction for Piedmont’s North Carolina customers this year. In February and March, the company decreased customer bills in North Carolina. Combined with this rate reduction, the average residential customer will save about $192 compared to last year.
“Even as costs continue to drop and we head into the warmer months of spring and summer when natural gas bills tend to be lower because of decreased usage, it’s never a bad time for customers to take control of their natural gas bills,” Weintraub added. “We continue to encourage customers to enroll in our Equal Payment Plan to level-ize their bills throughout the year and to implement energy-saving tips in their home. We also provide assistance programs year-round for customers who may continue to struggle with paying their bills.”
The Equal Payment Plan (EPP) program helps customers manage their budgets by eliminating high winter bills and allowing them to pay a predictable, equal monthly amount to help avoid billing surprises.
