Natural Gas Prices Continue To Fall

Energy independence has dominated head lines and political debates over the past decade, and now as the nation’s natural gas supply increases, customers are feeling it in their wallets.

Gas prices at the pump seem to always stay up, but gas prices at home continue to fall.

For the third year in a row. Intermountain Gas Company is requesting to decrease its prices.

“Basically it comes down to supply and demand,? Teton District Manager Teri Tengaio said. ?The supply of natural gas across the nation is at all-time highs so it’s reflected in what we charge our customers.”

Idaho Public Utilities Commission spokesman Gene Fadness said a decade ago we saw big increases in energy costs, but over the past five years they have steadily come down.

“This recent downward trend in prices has been a nice change,? Fadness said. ?We’ve just seen a lot more natural gas exploration and development.”

With the supply still growing, the forecast for next year looks promising for utility companies like Intermountain Gas.

“It’s basically the cost we incur to secure the gas that we need to supply to our customers,? Tengaio said.

So how much will prices fall this year?

Gas prices are expected to fall about 5.3 percent in eastern Idaho.

“Depending what gas appliances you have in your home it will be somewhere between $2.16 or $2.18 cents cheaper per month,? Tengaio said.

If you want to save even more money, you can implement energy-saving practices like turning down the heat down below 70 in the winter.

For more ways on how you can bring down your bill visit http://www.intgas.com/infocenter/conservationtips.html

While the rates change from year to year, if the trend continues, next year you might save even more.

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is accepting public comments until Sept. 21. If all goes smoothly, the new prices will take effect Oct. 1.