CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Piedmont Natural Gas
(NYSE: PNY) today announced its annual forecast of winter heating
costs for customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina
and Tennessee. This year's
forecast, reflecting declines in the wholesale cost of natural gas
and assuming normal winter temperatures, projects that Piedmont's residential customers could see
reductions in their overall winter heating costs ranging from 5
percent to as much as 25 percent.
In North Carolina and
South Carolina, Piedmont projects residential customers could
see reductions of approximately 20 percent to 25 percent in their
winter heating bill. For the average residential customer,
that would amount to savings of approximately $30 - $35 per month during the winter period of
November through March. Last year's winter temperatures
across Piedmont's North Carolina and South Carolina service areas were
approximately 11 percent to 14 percent colder than normal.
In Tennessee, Piedmont projects residential customers could
see reductions of approximately 5 percent in their winter heating
bill. For the average residential customer, that would amount
to savings of approximately $5 - $6
per month. Last year's winter temperatures in Piedmont's Tennessee service area were approximately 12
percent colder than normal.
Piedmont Natural Gas Chairman, President, and CEO Thomas E. Skains commented on the projection,
"This year's forecast is certainly very good news for our
customers, particularly in light of current economic conditions and
the challenges many of our customers face." Commenting
further, Mr. Skains said, "Even with these projected reductions, we
know that many individuals and families within the communities we
serve will need assistance in meeting their home energy needs
throughout the coming year. One of the ways we can all help is
through Piedmont's Share the
Warmth Round Up Program where our customers can sign up to have
their monthly natural gas bills rounded up to the nearest dollar.
The amount rounded up goes to provide emergency energy
assistance funds, regardless of the energy source that is used in
the home or the time of year in which the need occurs, to
individuals and families within the communities Piedmont serves."
For those customers who want to learn more about the Share
the Warmth Round Up Program or to enroll in the program, they
are encouraged to visit Piedmont's
website at www.piedmontng.com.
About Piedmont Natural Gas
Piedmont Natural Gas is an energy services company primarily
engaged in the distribution of natural gas to more than one million
residential, commercial and industrial utility customers in
North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, including 52,000 customers served
by municipalities who are wholesale customers. Our subsidiaries are
invested in joint venture, energy-related businesses, including
unregulated retail natural gas marketing, interstate natural gas
storage and intrastate natural gas transportation. More information
about Piedmont Natural Gas is available at
http://www.piedmontng.com/.
SOURCE Piedmont Natural Gas
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