Columbia lowers natural gas rates

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) _ Columbia Gas of Ohio has lowered its rates for February and estimates the average residential customer's heating bill for the month will be 27 percent less than it was a year ago.

The average residential bill will be $200.05, down from $274.23 last February, the company said Wednesday.

''This is the fourth consecutive month that we have been able to offer our customers prices that are well below last winter's,'' company President Jack Partridge said in a statement.

The February natural gas price will be 97 cents per 100 cubic feet, according to the company's filing with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The cost was $1.28 last February.

Customers will see a savings primarily because Columbia Gas paid lower prices to its suppliers than last year, the company said.

The winter heating seasons runs from November through March, with residential customers typically using the most natural gas in January and February, the company said.