Hampton, NH. (September 18, 2006): Unitil Corporation (AMEX:UTL) announced that its Massachusetts utility subsidiary filed its semiannual Cost of Gas Adjustment (CGA) with the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy for the winter period gas rates to take effect November 1, 2006.
A typical residential heating customer using 150 therms per month will see a slight decrease of $0.56 per month or a 0.2% decrease compared to rates in effect last winter. Bill impacts will vary depending upon rate class and usage. The rate change affects the Default Service portion of the bill and does not apply to customers who buy their own supplies of natural gas.
Unitil encourages customers concerned about winter energy bills to contact Unitil at 1-888-301-7700 for information about programs that can help moderate winter energy costs such as low-income discounts, energy efficiency programs and information, and budget billing programs.
The CGA in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is normally set every six months to reflect changes in wholesale gas supply costs incurred by the local distribution company to provide gas service to its customers. The CGA is initially based on estimates, and then reconciled to actual costs at the end of the period, with interest on over-or under-collections. Gas supply costs are recovered through the CGA without profit or mark up by the local distribution company. If wholesale natural gas costs decline below estimated cost levels, utilities will pass the savings on to customers.
Unitil Corporation (www.unitil.com) is a public utility holding company with subsidiaries providing electric service in New Hampshire, electric and gas service in Massachusetts and energy services throughout the northeast.
Contact
Stephanye Schuyler
schuyler@unitil.com
Corporate Office
Liberty Lane West
Hampton, NH 03842-1720
800/999-6501
