Xcel Energy proposes natural-gas price decrease for third quarter

Colorado customers can expect to see their natural gas costs decline by 18 to 22 percent in the third quarter versus the same period a year ago if the quarterly gas cost adjustment filed by Xcel Energy with the Public Utilities Commission is approved.

The per-kilowatt-hour price of electricity is also expected to drop by about 4 percent for both residential and small-business customers, the company said.

If approved, the new rates would go into effect July 1.

For residential customers, Xcel projects that the average monthly natural gas bill will dip 18 percent from $25.46 in the third quarter last year to $20.98 this year. Small-business customers will see their bills drop even more — 22 percent from an average of $99.10 to $77.60.

When compared to the second quarter this year, the average residential electricity bill is expected to drop 4.3 percent from $77.02 to $73.72. That’s compared to an average of $79.31 for the same period a year ago and based on usage of 632 kilowatt-hours. Average small-business bills, meanwhile, are expected to be $141.16 based on 1,123 kilowatt-hours of monthly use. That’s down from $147.04 in the second quarter and $151.34 in the third quarter of last year.