UNION ELECTRIC TO DROP GAS RATES

Union Electric Co. will reduce its natural gas rates of customers in three counties by approximately 4.4 percent to reflect a change in natural gas costs, the Missouri Public Service Commission announced.

Under present rates, a typical residential customer using approximately 53 cubic feet of gas during May would have paid $33.01 for the gas. That customer instead will pay $31.57 this month.

The PSC said approximately 60 to 70 percent of a customer's natural gas bill reflects the cost of natural gas from the wholesale supplier, which fluctuates rates a number of times during a year.

The adjustment applies to about 22,000 customers in Cape Girardeau, Stoddard and Scott counties.