MERRILLVILLE - Northern Indiana utility customers will pay about the same as last year to heat their homes through the winter. That's according to a recent forecast from the Merrillville-based utility. Nick Meyer, Director of Communications for NIPSCO says the utility releases a forecast of what natural gas will cost for the five colder months, November though March.
"What we look at is the actual average usage amounts for customers during that time and we look at historical information and pull together what we believe what an average use customer would use during that time, Meyer said. So certainly there's going to be differences on either end, depending on if you use more or less. But I think what we're seeing is quite good news for customers at least that, we're seeing because the cost of natural gas on the market continues to remain low we're really seeing...really not a major difference, relatively flat comparison when you look at last winter's bills compared to this winter."
The forecast says the average residential natural gas customer should pay a total of 390 dollars during the five-month winter hearing season, stretching from November 1st to March 31st. The average customer, using 622 therms over that period, paid about $387 last winter.
"So really again fortunately no real difference from last winter to this winter, Meyer said. So for the five total months, again November through March, a customer might expect to spend about $390 bucks total, and again that's the gas portion of their bill. Some NIPSCO customers also have electric, so this is the gas portion. That compares to about $387 dollars for the same time period last year using the same amount, so three dollars difference total for those five months, again relatively flat."
The forecast is based on current market price projections for natural gas and assumes normal winter weather. Projections take into account any market forecasts, supply trends and storage levels.
