PPL Gas Utilities filed a preliminary request today (5/1) with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to reduce natural gas rates for its 75,000 Pennsylvania customers effective Dec. 1.

If approved, the request would reduce the Purchased Gas Cost Rate by about $1.02 per dekatherm. A dekatherm is a measure of the heat energy in natural gas. PPL Gas Utilities bills show how many dekatherms customers use each month.

"We appreciate the continuing support of our customers, and we are doing all we can to keep their cost of service economical. This filing reflects ongoing decreases over the past year in the price we pay to purchase, transport and store natural gas for our customers," said Robert M. Geneczko, president of PPL Gas Utilities.

The effect of the proposed reduction in the Purchased Gas Cost Rate on customers’ bills would vary by rate class and gas use. The total bill of a residential customer using 8 dekatherms of natural gas per month would decrease from $88.61 to $80.49, or by 9.2 percent.

The Purchased Gas Cost Rate changes each year on Dec. 1. Quarterly, PPL Gas Utilities may adjust prices based on changes in its costs for purchasing natural gas for customers.

Geneczko noted that the last four quarterly adjustments have been downward. The total bill of a PPL Gas Utilities customer today is 17.5 percent lower than it was in March 2001.

"Natural gas is an efficient, clean form of energy, and it is produced domestically. Price reductions over the past year have made gas an even greater value for customers," Geneczko said.

PPL Gas Utilities, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation, serves customers in parts of 34 Pennsylvania counties.