POMEROY — There’s good news for area customers of Columbia Gas of Ohio. You can expect to have lower gas bills this fall due to the falling price of natural gas.

This week Columbia Gas of Ohio filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) an October Gas Cost Recovery (GCR) adjustment of 49 cents per Ccf (100 cubic feet).

This is a decrease of 54 cents, or about 52%, from the October 2008 GCR of $1.03, and marks the lowest autumn gas price since 1999, according to Columbus Gas.

October is when residential gas usage begins to grow again as temperatures cool and the winter heating season nears. Based on this lower price, the average residential customer using 26 Ccf will see an October bill of $31.67, according to company estimates. This is a decrease of more than $9 compared to October 2008, when the average bill was $40.78.

The October GCR will be 5 cents lower than September’s price, reflecting falling market prices for natural gas. The average September bill is projected at $24.83. Usage in September is typically around 15 Ccf.

While Columbia cannot predict gas prices in future months, based upon the dramatic drop in market prices, a lack of hurricanes and a near record amount of gas in storage, indicators are in place for Columbia Gas customers to see some significant relief in home heating bills this winter.

Still, many households are struggling to make ends meet in light of current economic conditions. Columbia Gas encourages all customers to take steps today to secure payment assistance, if necessary, and to ensure their heating equipment works properly before cold weather sets in.

Under Ohio law, natural gas utilities may not profit on the sale of gas to their retail customers. The GCR is designed to recover the utility’s gas costs on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Columbia earns its profits on gas delivery charges.

The October GCR is effective Sept. 28 and continues through Oct. 26. As required by the PUCO, Columbia Gas adjusts its GCR monthly to reflect market conditions.

Columbia Gas of Ohio, with headquarters in Columbus, is one of the nine energy distribution companies of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI). Serving approximately 1.4 million customers in 60 of Ohio’s 88 counties, it is the largest natural gas utility in the state. NiSource distribution companies serve approximately 3.8 million gas and electric customers primarily in seven states. More information about Columbia Gas of Ohio is available at: ColumbiaGasOhio.com.