By Associated Press
Albany, NY – The rising cost of natural gas in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita will add an average of $10 in monthly electricity bills for residents in upstate New York this winter.
The announcement came after the state Public Service Commission on Tuesday approved National Grid's request to implement rate increases of 3.4 percent in April and 1.6 percent in January 2007.
"We didnt see a change in commodity prices coming," said Kerry Burns, speaking for National Grid in Syracuse. "We had a season of damaging hurricanes that increased natural gas costs."
Monthly price increases for residents will vary from $5.50 in Western New York to $15 in the eastern part of the state.
National Grid serves 1.5 million electricity customers and 560,000 natural gas customers in New York. It also provides electricity to 1.7 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.