natural-gas-prices-over-time-usa-imageNatural-gas prices will rise next month for Columbia Gas of Ohio customers, but the rate will be at one of the lowest levels in years.

Columbia customers will pay 56 cents per 100 cubic feet of gas in November, before taxes and fees, up from 49 cents this month, the company said yesterday. But next month’s rate will be 53 percent lower than the $1.19 customers were charged in November of last year.

A typical customer will pay an estimated $61.10 in November, including taxes and fees, down about 37 percent from $97.15 last year, the company said.

“The fact that our November gas costs will be well below last year’s is especially good news for our customers now that we’re headed into another winter heating season,” Jack Partridge, Columbia Gas of Ohio president, said in a statement.

November’s rate will be the lowest charged during a cold-weather month since January 2003, when the price was 48 cents per 100 cubic feet of gas.

Prices have dropped over the past year as the economic downturn leads companies to use less gas. At the same time, gas supplies have remained strong.

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