Residential customers of Atmos Energy Corp. can expect this winters heating bills to be lower if current projections for natural gas supplies and winter weather do not change. In looking ahead to winter, Atmos Energy also expects to have sufficient natural gas supplies to meet the needs of customers across its 12-state service territory.

Many Logan Countians obtain their heating fuel from Atmos, formerly Western Kentucky Gas.

"We expect to start the winter season with lower prices than last year, thanks to the mild hurricane season and additional natural gas in storage," said John Paris, President. "Lower prices today underscore that natural gas is the country's best energy value and Atmos Energy is looking forward to a more normal winter."

The federal government's Energy Information Administration (EIA) has issued a similar forecast for the upcoming winter. The EIA short term energy forecast predicts natural gas expenditures could be approximately 13 percent lower than last year for the average U.S. household. Some regions will experience more or less savings, depending on the weather and natural gas usage.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts this winter will be six percent colder than last winter but still slightly warmer than normal.

Customers are encouraged to have their natural gas furnace and appliances inspected annually to ensure safe, reliable and efficient operations. Instead of waiting until winter to reinstate natural gas service, customers are urged to resume service now to avoid the rush of calls when the first cold weather arrives.

Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the country's largest natural gas-only distributor, serving about 3.2 million gas utility customers.