Good News for Gas Heat Customers ; PSE&G Seeks Lower Hike Than Expected

By KEVIN G. DeMARRAIS, STAFF WRITER

Your gas bill won’t be going down, but the increase will be less than originally expected if the Board of Public Utilities approves a filing made Wednesday by Public Service Electric and Gas Co.

Citing recent decreases in the wholesale price of natural gas, the Newark-based utility proposed to lower the increase in residential gas bills this fall to 14.3 percent.

That is about a third less than the 20 percent increase the company requested in May.

The increase reflects wholesale supply prices that have risen substantially since last fall.

PSE&G makes no profit on the sale of natural gas, passing along what it pays to its customers.

Natural gas prices have fallen by nearly 40 percent since July 3.

If the BPU approves the proposal, a PSE&G residential gas-heat customer who uses 100 therms in a winter month would pay $165.93 per month, or $20.47 more.

On an annual basis, this customer’s bill for 606 therms would be $1,027.24, or an increase of $124.12.

The new rates would take effect Oct. 3.

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E-mail: demarrais@northjersey.com

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