American Gas Association says customers may see 5 percent increase in bills due to colder winter
The American Gas Association (AGA) said Tuesday at the organization’s annual Winter Outlook event that U.S. natural gas customers many on average a 5 percent increase in the bills this winter due to lower temperatures.
Residential customers will likely use an average of 3 percent more natural gas this winter than during the past two winters, which were abnormally warm.
“Americans may use slightly more natural gas this winter to heat their homes, but due to the excellent energy value provided by natural gas, people are not likely to see a very different bill than what they have seen over the past seven years,” Chris McGill, vice-president of Energy Analysis and Standards at AGA, said.
This winter heating season will be the third following the extreme cold of 2013-2014, which included the polar vortex, McGill noted. Temperatures, he said, are expected to be colder than last year but not as cold as three years ago.
According to AGA’s analyses, 177 million Americans use natural gas in their homes, 39 states are exploring expansion of natural gas infrastructure and households that use natural gas, rather than electricity, for heating, cooking and drying clothes save an average of $874 per year.
“The price of natural gas this winter for residential customers has largely been influenced by stable and now growing production, a flexible underground storage position and the presence of strong pipeline exports to Mexico, as well as growth in LNG exports,” McGill said. “Utilities work all year to prepare for the possibility of extreme temperatures and employ a portfolio approach to help ensure they can meet the needs of their customers at affordable prices on the coldest days of the year.”
