COLLINSVILLE, Ill.,
March 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/
-- Though the official 2014/2015 winter heating season is
drawing to a close, Mother Nature isn't willing to completely let
go of the cooler temperatures, so it's good news that Ameren
Illinois natural gas customers will benefit from another drop in
the cost of natural gas. Because Ameren Illinois purchases a
significant amount of natural gas for its customers during the
summer and stores it underground for later use, the benefits will
continue next winter when the lower cost gas is used by
customers.
Since this time last year, per therm natural gas costs for
Ameren Illinois customers have dropped by almost 35 percent and are
at their lowest levels since 2002. Ameren Illinois' gas supply
charge for April 2015 will be
42.05 cents per-therm as compared to
51.94 cents per-therm in March 2015, reflecting a decrease of 19 percent.
The continued decline in the cost of natural gas is a reflection of
oversupplied market conditions for natural gas caused by strong
production growth from shale gas regions in the U.S.
"Natural gas prices continue to decline in the U.S. due to
record levels of natural gas production coupled with relatively
flat demand. U.S. production was up 11.5 percent from December 2013 to December
2014 – this is good news for natural gas customers who are
reaping the benefits," said Ken
Dothage, director of Gas Supply for Ameren Illinois. "
Beyond heating, most Ameren Illinois customers rely on natural
gas stoves, clothes dryers and water heaters for comfort and
convenience. Because these appliances can account for about 20
percent of a residential customer's annual gas usage, the decline
in natural gas costs will benefit our 812,000 customers throughout
the year.
"Natural gas continues to be a great value and a clean resource
for our customer's energy needs. With the lower PGA, and under
current rates, the average Ameren Illinois customer that utilizes
745 therms per year will save approximately $75 annually. We continue to do everything
possible to take advantage of the lower energy costs and pass the
savings on directly to our customers. It's a 365-day job, " Dothage
added.
Natural gas is a commodity which Ameren Illinois purchases from
various producers for delivery to its customers. Ameren
Illinois does not profit from or mark-up the cost of natural gas
supplies purchased. While the cost of natural gas has fallen
dramatically, the total amount of a customer's bill will depend on
factors such as the temperature and the actual amount of energy a
customer uses.
Customers can take actions to reduce their natural gas bills
without sacrificing personal comfort. Information on energy
saving practices and budget billing strategies are available at
AmerenIllinois.com/programs.
About Ameren Illinois
Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and 812,000
natural gas customers in Illinois.
Our mission is to power the quality of life. Our service territory
covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles. For
more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com, find us on Twitter
@AmerenIllinois or Facebook.
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SOURCE Ameren Illinois