Weather forecasters are predicting a slightly warmer than usual winter this year and that should mean lower home heating costs.
Last winter, natural gas prices were sky high. What a difference a year makes. Steve Kraus with Madison Gas and Electric says the price of natural gas is already set and right now it's 30-per cent lower than a year ago.
Of course, any abrupt change in the supply could change that such as a pipeline rupture or some other unforeseen event. A sudden cold snap could also affect the price.
Kraus says that's what happened last year. We were just coming off two hurricanes that interrupted supply. Wisconsin gets about 25-per cent of its natural gas from the Gulf Coast.
Also, during the cold weather of last December people used large amounts of natural gas to keep warm and that drove the price up as well.
Kraus says if the supply remains stable and the we have a normal winter, we should see some relief in out natural gas bills this year.
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