By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Missouri state regulators on Tuesday approved a rate increase for Laclede Gas customers of nearly 30%. The new rates for natural gas take effect Monday.
The Missouri Public Service Commission estimates an average customer will spend about $786 this winter; that's $178 more than winter's average.
The new rates last until the next scheduled adjustment up or down in January.
The increase reflects a near doubling of wholesale natural gas prices in the past 12 months.
Laclede Gas serves about 630,000 natural gas customers in eastern Missouri.