National Fuel announces rate hike

SHARON, Pa. —  National Fuel Gas customers will see an increase in the price they pay for natural gas.

The company’s Pennsylvania division announced a quarterly adjustment to gas cost rates effective Tuesday.   This increase raises the monthly bill of a typical residential customer in northwestern Pennsylvania using 100 thousand cubic feet annually from $113.49 to $118.30, or by 4.3 percent.

According to Nancy Taylor, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications, the market price of gas has been driven higher by colder than normal temperatures. National Fuel is required by law to pass any increase or decrease in gas costs on to customers dollar for dollar with no mark-up or profit.   This increase also takes into account projected gas costs for the next four months.

“This change is expected to have a minimal impact on customers' upcoming bills as customer usage is typically lower in the spring and summer months and follows a winter season when, overall, customer’s bills were 21 percent lower than last year, primarily as a result of lower gas costs,” Taylor said.