With more than half of Pennsylvania and nearly half of all U.S. households relying on natural gas as their primary heating source, American families can rest easy knowing that our nation’s residential natural gas prices continue to drop.

In fact, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), “household heating costs are expected to be lower than previous two winters,” thanks largely to increased domestic shale production. For homes heating with clean-burning natural gas, EIA expects an average savings of $64 — or 10 percent — this winter over last. A true “win-win for consumers.”

Here’s what they’re saying:

  • “Energy Department Predicts Lower Winter Fuel Bills”: The nearly half of American households that are heated with natural gas can expect a decline of 10% in their gas spending, the Energy Department said. … Lower energy prices should be particularly helpful to working-class families who spend a high proportion of their incomes on fuels. Much of their additional spending power should help restaurants and retailers. Many industries, including airlines and manufacturers of petrochemicals, chemicals and plastics, should also benefit from the lower energy costs. … Rates for households using natural gas would be even lower. (New York Times, 10/6/15)
  • Winter Heating Costs Will Drop Because of Lower Prices: S. homeowners can expect to pay less to heat their homes this winter because of lower prices for natural gas, heating oil, propane and electricity…the U.S. EIA said on Tuesday. … Residents who heat their homes with natural gas will pay a national average of $64, or 10 percent, less this year. … The lower natural gas prices reflect plentiful supplies and near-record levels of storage, the EIA said. (StateImpact, 10/6/15)
  • “Natural Gas Customers to See Lower Rates this Winter Season”: The State Public Service Commission ordered natural gas companies to lower the purchased gas portion of their rates for the upcoming heating season on Monday. … Customers of Mountaineer Gas Company will see a 23.5% decrease. Customers of Hope Gas will see a decrease of little over 30%. (MetroNews, 10/5/15)
  • “More Natural Gas Results in Lower Bills”: About 221,000 Mountaineer Gas Co. customers should soon get a break on their monthly natural gas bills because of the falling prices associated with greater supply. According to the PSC of West Virginia, Mountaineer customers will see the purchased gas portions of their bills fall from $6.29 per 1,000 cubic-foot unit to $4.81 per Mcf, which reflects about a 23.5% decrease. … As drillers in both Ohio and West Virginia continue pumping natural gas out of the ground, this adds to the supply that is leading the price to fall. Those in the West Virginia who rely on Hope Gas Co. will see the purchased gas portions of their bills fall from $4.66 per unit to $3.25 per unit, reflecting a drop of 30.2%. (The Intelligencer, 10/6/15)
  • “NY Increasingly Dependent on Natural Gas from Other States”: NY has had the country’s biggest increase in the number of households using natural gas as a heating fuel source … Between 2005 and 2014, the number of NY natural gas customers went from 3.7 to 4.2 million … Heating prices are expected to be 30% cheaper in Buffalo this season, the lowest in two decades … NY’s increasing dependence on natural gas as a heat sources comes as the state is also relying more on natural gas to produce electricity. While both trends can be seen throughout the country, it’s particularly noteworthy in NY, which has a fracking ban and one of the nation’s largest deposits of shale gas in one of its poorest regions. … When it comes to staying warm and keeping the lights on, gas fracked in other states is a growing part of daily life in NY. … NY’s electric grid is increasingly powered by natural gas, according to the EIA. In 2015 alone, the use of natural gas at power plants is expected to increase by 13%. (Politico, 10/5/15)

American natural gas is delivering consumer savings, creating tens-of-thousands of good-paying local jobs, and providing meaningful environmental benefits. Join the fight for jobs and a stronger future for our Commonwealth by becoming a United Shale Advocate today!