CenterPoint Energy: Steady natural gas prices leading to lower winter heating costs
While last winter brought higher and more volatile natural gas prices, CenterPoint Energy came out this week with a statement that its customers should expect lower natural gas bills this year thanks to stabilization in the market.
“With the decrease in natural gas prices, assuming our region experiences normal weather this heating season, customers should expect a notable decrease in their bills compared to last season,” Ashley Babcock, vice president of Indiana and Ohio Gas, said. “However, we recognize some customers might still face financial hardship this heating season, and we want to encourage them to contact us for options to assist in managing costs prior to their first bill of the heating season.”
Decreased and stable natural gas prices bring lower heating costs along with them, a potentially huge gain for CenterPoint’s customers, since those bills represent nearly half of their bills during winter months. Depending on their supplier, some can see higher or lower costs even with a stable supply, and the company reminded its customers that they can choose fixed price options that won’t see any fluctuation for the season.
However, natural gas remains the most affordable heating source in the region at present. CenterPoint noted that its average customers paid $120 per month for such service over the course of five months (November – March). Those who did so saved up to $1,118 compared to those who relied on propane and between $503 to as much as $2,025 compared to those who utilized electric heat pumps or furnaces, respectively. House size, age, number of gas appliances, insulation, thermostat settings and more details can affect each situation.
