INDIANAPOLIS – Citizens Gas projected today that the typical residential heating bill will decrease about $23 in January (billed in February) compared to a year ago. The decrease is attributable to slightly lower wholesale natural gas prices and steps the utility is taking to reduce gas costs.

Assuming normal weather, the utility projected that the typical residential heating bill for January would be about $196 for 194 therms. During January 2007, the typical bill was about $219 for 194 therms. In December, the typical bill was $160 for 152 therms.

The projections are part of the utility's monthly Gas Cost Adjustment (GCA) filing with the IURC. Citizens Gas makes the filings to account for changes in the price of gas it purchases for its customers. Gas prices often fluctuate rapidly because of changing weather and gas market conditions.

Customers can minimize the monthly financial impact of cold weather by signing up for Citizens' Budget Payment Plan. Under the Budget Plan, a customer's heating cost is spread out into equal monthly payments over a 12-month period. Information about Budget Plan eligibility is available at 924-3311.

The utility urges customers to conserve energy by taking simple steps to weatherize their homes. Customers are encouraged to go to CitizensEnergySavers.com for a full range of energy saving tools, including the Citizens Home Energy Advisor, which provides a list of energy saving suggestions through a free online energy audit.

To help minimize the impact of sudden changes in wholesale natural gas prices, Citizens Gas utilizes a hedging strategy to purchase most of its gas supply during periods of low demand. Citizens Gas also stores gas in underground storage fields during the summer for use during the winter. This past summer the utility initiated the Indiana Municipal Gas Purchasing Authority to make an advance purchase of gas that will save Citizens Gas customers $24 million over the next 15 years.

Citizens Gas' rates are among the bottom third of gas companies operating in Indiana , according to figures compiled by the IURC.

Average Residential Heating Bill Comparisons Projections Assume Normal Weather

About Citizens Gas
Citizens Gas & Coke Utility is a Public Charitable Trust providing efficient and reliable energy services to more than 266,000 customers in and around Marion County. The Public Charitable Trust means the utility is managed only for the benefit of customers and the community.

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