To reflect estimated changes in the wholesale cost of natural gas as well as a change in the company's Actual Cost Adjustment (ACA) factor, Atmos Energy Corporation (Atmos) customers will see natural gas rates drop under a filing that takes effect on November 1, 2011.
The ACA factor is a mechanism which tracks any over-collection or under-collection of actual natural gas costs over a 12 month period. The net over- or under-collected balances are subsequently either refunded or collected the next year.
Southeast District (SEMO, Neelyville): Residential customers currently pay approximately $0.64 per Ccf (per hundred cubic feet) of natural gas. Under this filing, the rate will drop to approximately $0.61 per Ccf, a decrease of approximately $0.03 per Ccf. Atmos serves Southeast District customers in the Missouri counties of New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, Scott, Iron, Wayne, Stoddard and Mississippi. Northeast District (Hannibal, Canton, Bowling Green, Palmyra): Residential customers currently pay approximately $0.65 per Ccf of natural gas. Under this filing, the rate will drop to approximately $0.60 per Ccf, a decrease of approximately $0.05 per Ccf. Atmos serves Northeast District customers in the Missouri counties of Clark, Lewis, Knox, Marion, Pike, Ralls and Scotland.
West District (Butler, Rich Hill/Hume): Residential customers currently pay approximately $0.59 per Ccf of natural gas. Under this filing, the rate will drop to approximately $0.54 per Ccf, a decrease of approximately $0.05 per Ccf. Atmos serves West District customers in the Missouri counties of Bates, Cass, Henry and St. Clair.
Kirksville District: Residential customers currently pay approximately $0.64 per Ccf of natural gas. Under this filing, the rate will drop to approximately $0.62 per Ccf, a decrease of approximately $0.02 per Ccf. Atmos serves Kirksville District customers in the Missouri counties of Macon, Adair and Schuyler.The PSC continues to encourage customers to work to reduce their energy consumption. A number of energy saving tips can be found on a website (www.beenergyefficient.org) from the Missouri Public Service Commission and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.Approximately 65% to 75% of a customer's natural gas bill reflects the cost of natural gas from wholesale suppliers. The wholesale cost of natural gas (the cost your local natural gas company must pay to its suppliers for natural gas) is not regulated by the Missouri Public Service Commission. The wellhead cost of natural gas is unregulated and is primarily driven by supply, demand and the weather. The Missouri Public Service Commission does conduct an annual regulatory review to ensure that regulated natural gas companies make prudent decisions in securing natural gas supplies for their customers.
Atmos serves approximately 56,300 natural gas customers in Missouri.
