Natural gas costs high in Ala.

Bill Finch and Ben Raines of the Mobile Register used an independent energy-use analysis to show that Alabama natural gas customers are likely to pay hundreds of dollars more for the same amount of natural gas than customers in neighboring states this winter. "The higher price that the Alabama Public Service Commission allows Alabama utilities to charge has reversed any cost advantage that homeowners using natural gas once enjoyed. " On surveying 23 Southern utilities, it was found that over the past year, Mobile Gas Service Corp.'s residential bills per unit of gas were the highest among 23 Southern utilities and more than 40 percent above the regional average. New research also shows that the price Mobile Gas and Alagasco charged for delivering gas and the prices they charged customers for the fuel itself during the last year were both significantly above the Southeastern average. Read more about the investigation. An investigation into the matter was called for by the Public Service Commissioner in response to the story.