Southwest lowers gas prices

The price of natural gas will go down somewhat for Nevada customers of Southwest Gas.

The Public Utilities Commission approved the reductions this past week, just as many customers begin to see their monthly bills increase because of increased heating demands as nighttime temperatures drop toward the freezing mark.

A spokesman said the reduced rates were made possible primarily because the prices Southwest paid for gas on the wholesale market went down between April 2006 and March 2007.

A Carson City area residential customer using a winter average of 99 therms of gas will see their monthly gas bill drop about $14.87 to an average of $134.17.

Southern Nevada customers, who use an average of 66 therms during the winter, will see their bills drop about $8 a month.

A commission spokesman said the new rates take effect Thursday.