WSIU: Winter Heating Bills Expected to be Higher (2008-09-10)

Consumers will have to dig deeper into their wallets this heating season.

Ameren predicts natural gas increases of 20 to 25 percent during the 2008 - 2009 heating season over last season. Ameren officials say that equates to a 15 to 25 cent increase per therm over last heating season.

Citizens Utility Board Policy Director Chris Thomas says natural gas customers will definitely pay more to stay warm this winter.

Ameren blames higher worldwide demand for energy that has driven up the market prices of both petroleum and natural gas.
It says a weak dollar and the move by investors to invest in all commodities, including natural gas, are also placing upward pressure on prices.

Natural gas prices jumped in June because of an increase in demand to produce electricity. Prices have since dropped but will increase as temperatures decrease.

Natural gas prices could change due to unforeseen events such as hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico.