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John Daley ReportingEric Orton, Committee of Consumer Services: "It's just not as painful as it used to be. Any sort of decrease is better than an increase."
After a big leap up last year, your home heating bill is going down, at least a little bit. It's a bit of relief tonight for Utah consumers. Today the Public Service Commission approved a rate decrease for Questar Gas. It means home heating bills, which spiked sharply a few months ago, will now come down some.
Questar says it made the request to decrease rates because natural gas prices, which peaked last year, have come down. Prices for natural gas had been rising already last year, then Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit in August and September, knocking out production, sending the price sharply upward.
In response utilities raised their customers' rates around the country. In Utah, Questar's rates went up 38% and many consumers vented their frustration about the sticker shock.
Today it was the flip side as Questar went to the Public Service Commission and asked for an 8% rate decrease, which commissioners approved.
A Questar spokesman says the reason for the decrease has nothing to do with complaints and everything to do with price.
Chad Jones, Questar Spokesman: "Wholesale prices have fallen out on the open market."
The 8% change means the average customer will see their bill go down $8.50 a month, or about $104 a year.
Chad Jones, Questar Spokesman: "Some relief, it's still not to the point where people will be comfortable, they're still paying 30% more than they were last winter, which is too much. We know they're frustrated with us. What we're trying to do is pass along savings as fast as we can."
Eric Orton, Committee of Consumer Services: "It's just not as painful as it used to be. Any sort of decrease is better than an increase, so this 8% is a good start."
Consumer advocate Roger Ball says he thinks the company could do much more to bring its rates down.
Roger Ball, Consumer Advocate: "This reduction is a move in the right direction. I'd regard it as a fairy footstep in that direction. What we need are some giant strides."
The decrease should be reflected in your upcoming natural gas bill.
