REGION

REGION

National Fuel seeks
residential rate increase

ERIE, Pa. — The natural gas bill for a typical residential customer would increase 2.2 percent under a plan submitted to state regulators by National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. The Erie-based company has customers in Mercer County.

National Fuel is projecting an increase in overall gas cost expenses of about $7.6 million a year, starting in August. The average residential bill would increase from $125.50 to $128.23 per month. The projection is based upon a forecast of market prices for gas purchases to be made for one year starting Aug. 1.

NATION

Atlanta airport remains
the nation’s busiest

ATLANTA — For the third year in a row, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has retained its title as the nation’s busiest airport in terms of flights, according to preliminary government data released Wednesday.

The Atlanta airport logged 994,466 flights in 2007, up 1.8 percent from 976,447 flights in 2006, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Flights include takeoffs and landings.

Its rival, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, was listed second busiest, with 935,000 flights in 2007. That number was down 2.4 percent from the 958,643 flights it had in 2006, the FAA said.

From Vindicator staff and wire reports