Natural gas will cost more after Duke Energy Kentucky implements a new rate, Duke representatives announced Wednesday.
Duke says the company filed a request with the Kentucky Public Service Commission to increase the rate for natural gas delivery service to approximately $17.5 million.
The request would increase a monthly bill by 17.9 percent for an average residential customer using 70 ccf (ccf is 100 cubic feet, the standard unit of measurement) of natural gas per month. The average customer's bill would increase from about $75.15 to $88.59, based on Duke Energy Kentucky's current rates for delivery.
The new rate will take effect in early 2010.
Representatives from Duke Energy Kentucky say they recognize the impact of higher natural gas prices on its customers. Duke will offer energy efficiency programs, bill management assistance and energy usage information to help customers cope. The resources are available on its
Web site.
The rate hike would help recognize Duke Energy Kentucky's accelerated gas main replacement program (AMRP) which helps with replacing miles of high-maintenance and low-maintenance gas mains.
The AMRP helps increase customer safety and system reliability, higher system operating pressure, lower line loss and stable operation and maintenance expenses, according to Duke.
Duke's operations provide natural gas service to about 95,000 customers in Northern Kentucky. The company provides more than 1,000 megawatts of electricity capacity to about 135,000 customers.
