JEFFERSON
CITY— 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, Liberty Utilities customers will see natural gas rates change
under a filing that takes effect on November 14, 2013.
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.
West District (Butler, Rich Hill/Hume): Residential customers currently
pay approximately $0.45 per Ccf of natural gas. Under this filing, the
rate will increase to approximately $0.49 per Ccf, an increase of
approximately $0.04 per Ccf. Liberty Utilities serves West District
customers in the Missouri counties of Bates, Cass, Henry and St.
Clair.
Approximately 55% to 60% 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.
