Ellen Thompson
Havre Daily News
ethompson@havredailynews.com
Cold temperatures this week may have Havreites wondering what their gas bills will look like this winter, perfect timing for Montana Public Service Commission chair Greg Jergeson's Friday visit and talk about the natural gas market.
”Natural gas prices are going up,“ Jergeson said today. The Public Service Commission doesn't regulate the cost of the commodity, he said, only the rate companies charge to distribute gas.
”Some of it is in response to Hurricane Katrina,“ Jergenson said of the price increase, adding that there are other market factors.
Jergeson plans, in his talks, to explain the rising costs and share some advice on how residents can moderate the effect.
The good news: ”There's some conservation and weatherization services available to help people use less natural gas,“ he said.
He'll be at District IV Human Resources Development Council from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday holding four hour-long discussions.
”At the top of each hour, beginning at 2 p.m., I will give a brief overview of what is going on with the natural gas situation and the choices consumers may have available to them, including conservation,“ he said. ”Then I will spend the remainder of the hour fielding consumer questions and concerns. I'll repeat this throughout the afternoon so people can attend during that hour most convenient for them.“
Jergeson will be at Triangle Telephone Cooperative at 10 a.m. Friday for a hearing on the rates Havre Pipeline charges for transporting natural gas. The purpose is to settle issues between companies, he said.
That meeting will be more technical, but Jergeson said the public is welcome to attend.
