A story in the business section of Wednesday's Forum headlined "Local heating costs stable" was inaccurate due to incorrect information provided by Xcel Energy.
A change in the company's billing method resulted in the miscalculation of last year's natural gas price, said spokeswoman Bonnie Lund.
The current December cost of natural gas rate is $1.14 per therm, Lund said. However, last year's rate should have been stated as 88 cents.
Overall, North Dakota Xcel Energy customers will see about a 19 percent increase in their natural gas bill if their usage is exactly the same this December as last December, Lund said.
Delivery services charges are 38 percent less this December than last December due to a change to a fixed monthly rate. But the wholesale cost of natural gas is up by nearly 30 percent, Lund said.
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Based on an average North Dakota residential customer using 160 therms in December, the average cost of a heat bill in December 2004 would have been $166.58, with delivery charges included.
For this December, an average bill would be $198.45.
A Minnesota customer will see about a 24 percent increase in their natural gas bill if their usage is exactly the same this December as last December, Lund said.
Customers have also been confused because they have not yet received their December bills, Lund added.
Each month's price is also prorated based on the time of the month the meter is read, so likely no one's bill will say the $1.14 cost of gas for this month, she said.
The previous story should have also stated November wholesale gas prices were up about 40 percent, Lund added.
Lund apologized for the mistake and the confusion it may have caused customers.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Teri Finneman at (701) 241-5560
