National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (National Fuel)
has submitted to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission its quarterly
adjustment to gas supply charges. This adjustment decreases the monthly bill of
a typical residential customer with annual usage of 100,300 cubic feet of gas
by $1.17, from $70.35 to $69.18. This 1.66 percent decrease is to become
effective Feb. 1, 2021.
Resulting from the abundant supply of Marcellus Shale gas
and benefitting northwestern Pennsylvania homes and businesses, market prices
for natural gas remain at 13-year lows.
Nearly all of the gas consumed by National Fuel utility customers comes
from Pennsylvania-produced shale gas.
National Fuel’s price-to-compare gas commodity charge also
will decrease to $0.37198 per 100 cubic feet (ccf). This reference point,
detailed on the National Fuel bill under Gas Supply Charges, is important for
customers who are shopping for an alternate gas supplier.
Gas supply charges are passed along to customers dollar for
dollar, with no mark-up or profit to National Fuel. Pennsylvania utility
companies are permitted to update gas supply charges on a quarterly basis to
reflect changes in the market price of natural gas. The next opportunity to
adjust gas supply charges will be May 1, 2021.
As the result of cost-containment efforts and efficient management, National Fuel hasn’t sought to increase the delivery service charges paid by its residential customers in more than 14 years, even while consistent investments in pipeline safety and system modernization have continued.
