Reductions in wholesale natural gas prices mean customers of PPL Gas Utilities will see lower bills starting Sept. 1.

The company has filed a new gas supply charge rate with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission that will result in a decrease of 21 cents per dekatherm. A dekatherm is a measure of the heat energy in natural gas. Customer bills show how many dekatherms they use each month.

The total gas bill for the average residential customer, who uses 9 dekatherms of gas a month, will decrease by about $2. Customers’ actual savings will vary depending on how much gas they use.

"The supply charge reflects the price we pay to gas producers," said Robert M. Geneczko, president of PPL Gas Utilities. "In recent months, natural gas prices have decreased. We’re passing the benefits of those lower prices along to our customers."

Natural gas distribution companies make no profit on the gas they buy to meet their customers’ needs.

Commercial customers of PPL Gas Utilities using 34 dekatherms a month will see their total gas bill decrease by more than $7. Industrial customers using 237 dekatherms a month will see a reduction of more than $50 on their total gas bill.

This latest decrease follows a 13.3 percent reduction in the gas supply charge in June. PPL Gas Utilities recalculates its gas supply charge every three months and adjusts the charge if necessary.

PPL Gas Utilities serves about 75,000 customers in parts of 34 counties across Pennsylvania.