Natural gas bills are going up this winter

Natural gas customers in North Carolina can expect to see an increase in their monthly bills this winter.

New rates for Piedmont Natural Gas customers go into effect on November 1.

The estimated bill increase for the average residential customer in North Carolina will be a little over $11 a month, or $136 per year.

According to a news release, the price hikes are being driven in part by global surges in demand, combined with slower than expected production in the past year.

Officials with Piedmont Natural Gas, which is a subsidiary of Duke Energy, acknowledge that the higher rates may create hardships for some customers. To that end, they are steering households to assistance options such as the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, which helps customers pay home heating bills.

And the company says it's suspending disconnection of service for customers who qualify through March 2022.