Jasper informs gas customers to expect price increase

The City of Jasper posted an update on the impact of the recent winter storm on gas prices for its customers.

Recently, the US Energy Information Administration reported the largest natural gas withdrawal from storage ever recorded—360 billion cubic feet. That’s 89 percent higher than the five-year average for this time of year. The record withdrawal was driven by extreme winter weather, which sharply increased heating demand and disrupted natural gas production.

Winter Storm Fern brought widespread snow, ice, and record-cold temperatures across much of the eastern U.S., leaving hundreds of millions of people below freezing. The power outages, ice, sleet, and extreme cold at the peak temporarily shut down more than 10 percent of U.S. natural gas production.

The combination of high demand, reduced supply, and prolonged cold pushed natural gas and electricity prices higher.

Jasper Municipal Utilities’ gas customers will see the impact of higher natural gas prices on their bills. Gas purchased for January cost more than in recent months, and bills mailed around February 18—covering January usage—will reflect those higher prices.

Conditions are now beginning to improve as temperatures warm across the country.