By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri Public Service Commission said Thursday that natural gas prices for more than 130,000 Missouri customers are changing.
The rate for nearly 100,000 central Missouri AmerenUE customers are expected to fall about 9%, starting Wednesday. The drop reflects changes in wholesale costs of natural gas and adjustments in the company's tool for handling under- or overcharges for gas costs.
Residential customers' rates will go from $0.95 to $0.87 per 100 cubic feet of gas.
That reduction applies to about 98,600 customers in Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Lincoln, Miller, Moniteau, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Ralls, Randolph, Saline, St. Charles and Warren counties.
As many as 75% of natural gas bills reflect the wholesale cost of gas, which the commission does not regulate, the PSC said.
About 19,200 customers in Cape Girardeau, Scott and Stoddard counties will see gas rates drop by about 10% for the same reasons. The rate for customers there will drop from $1.11 per 100 cubic feet to $1.
But about 3,900 Ameren customers in Phelps County will see rates rise by less than 1%, from $1.38 to $1.39 per 100 cubic feet, the commission said.
The biggest hike will be for 1,870 Ameren customers in Bollinger, Butler and Stoddard counties, whose gas rates are expected to rise by about 20%, starting Wednesday. Their rates will go from $0.79 per 100 cubic feet of gas to $0.95.
Also, the commission said about 7,250 Southern Missouri Gas Co. customers in Douglas, Howell, Texas, Webster and Wright counties will see natural gas bills fall by about 3% starting Wednesday. Residential customers there pay about $1 per 100 cubic feet of gas. With the rate change, their cost will fall to $0.95 for that amount.
That reduction also reflects lower wholesale costs of natural gas and adjustments for overcharges.