Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Monday, October 17, 2005 7:00 pm
A total of 30,208 residential customers in the Lincoln area signed up for Aquila’s Fixed Price Option natural gas purchase plan, the company said Monday.
That’s 35 percent more than last year, said spokeswoman Mary Simmons.
A concern of soaring natural gas prices was mostly responsible for the increase. Federal officials say consumers could pay 50 percent or more for natural gas this winter, compared to last winter.
Under the Fixed Price Option, residential customers lock in a certain price for 12 months. Beginning in November, those who signed up for the option will pay 96 cents per therm for their natural gas.
Aquila offers the plan as a way to give consumers some control over fluctuating natural gas prices. The plan is only offered in the Lincoln area.
Customers who did not sign up by the Sept. 30 deadline were automatically signed up for the Traditional Billing Option. Under that plan, Aquila determines the price of natural gas based on market conditions and wholesale prices.
Simmons said 16,403 customers signed up for both the Fixed Price Option and the company’s budget plan called StreamLine. Last year, about 11,000 customers signed up for both programs.
Aquila serves about 85,000 residential customers in the Lincoln area.