Commission - Some gas customers to see refunds

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Some natural gas customers in Missouri will receive $30 million in refunds in their bills starting this month, the Public Service Commission said. The commission could not say how many customers will be affected or what the average refund will be. The bulk of those refunds -- about $24 million -- are headed to Missouri Gas Energy customers, commission spokesman Kevin Kelly said. Some customers of AmerenUE, Aquila Networks, Atmos Energy and City Utilities of Springfield also will get money back.

The credits should start appearing on utility bills this month, the commission said.

Missouri Gas Energy spokesman Paul Snider said Friday that nearly all of its residential customers will see a refund, and the typical homeowner should get about a $22 credit on their next bill.

The refunds stem from cases involving Kansas property taxes collected during the 1980s by natural gas producers from Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline and Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line customers.

Kansas City-based Missouri Gas Energy serves about 502,600 natural gas customers in western Missouri.