Missouri Public Service Commission issues order to lower natural gas rates

Natural gas customers in several towns of Cape Girardeau and Scott counties will begin paying lower rates today under an order issued by the Missouri Public Service Commission.

Atmos Energy Corp. is paying less for natural gas so customers get a break, PSC chairman Jeff Davis said in a news release. Atmos originally sought to lower rates as of Feb. 1, but the PSC ordered the immediate cut, Davis said.

The decrease of 16 cents per hundred cubic feet of gas -- a 12.5 percent reduction -- will affect customers in Oak Ridge, Jackson and Gordonville in Cape Girardeau County and Chaffee, Oran, Benton, Morley, Haywood City, Miner and Sikeston in Scott County, PSC spokesman Kevin Kelly said.

Atmos customers in New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Dunklin, Iron, Wayne, Stoddard and Mississippi counties will also get relief.

AmerenUE, which serves the cities of Cape Girardeau and Marble Hill, has not filed for a reduction, spokesman Mike McCleary said.