Unitil Asks To Drop Natural Gas Rate 26 Percent

FITCHBURG, Mass. (AP) — Unitil Corp. is proposing a summer natural gas rate cut it says will save the average residential customer about $27 a month, or 26 percent.

The rate of 69 cents per therm is down 56 percent from last summer's $1.55. The average home customer uses about 50 therms per month.

The reduction is based on this year's lower futures costs for natural gas. It will go into effect on May 1 if approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.

The New Hampshire-based utility serves about 15,000 gas customers in central Massachusetts. Unitil director of business services Cindy Carroll says the rate decrease will be "welcome relief" to consumers.

NStar also said Monday it is filing a seasonal rate cut with state regulators.