Winter heating bills won’t be as bad as expected

COLUMBUS (AP) — Analysts say fears of wallet-destroying heating bills seem to have gone lukewarm.

Just weeks ago, Columbus Gas of Ohio predicted steep cost increases, telling customers to expect $300 bills to heat a typical home in January. But natural-gas prices are down more than 30 percent from their early-July peak. Analysts say customers can still expect higher prices. But natural-gas production is up, and the markets responded. Still, some such as schools worry about tough choices.

Columbia Gas spokesman Ken Stammen says it’s tough to know what the prices are going to be months from now.

Most utilities buy their natural gas during the summer months and store it.