While there will be no refund, ONG customers will see lower gas bills starting in December

Oklahomans will see lower gas bills this winter than last, though there will not be a refund of any high prices already paid. <br><br>News on Six reporter Emory Bryan says the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

Friday, November 2nd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Oklahomans will see lower gas bills this winter than last, though there will not be a refund of any high prices already paid.

News on Six reporter Emory Bryan says the Oklahoma Corporation Commission regulates the gas company to make sure they're getting the best deal for customers. The commission decided this week that Oklahoma Natural Gas paid more than it should have for the gas it will sell this winter.

Normally, ONG can pass on the complete cost of gas, but they'll have to swallow $46 million in overpriced gas.

What that means for customers - ONG was charging a monthly "gas recovery fee" to make up the difference in what the gas costs and what they were allowed to charge. They'll have to eliminate that charge as of the December bill, which will end up being only a few dollars off for most customers. Andrea Chancellor with Oklahoma Natural Gas: "People will have to pay what they owe us and that is where some of the confusion comes in. Some of our customers are feeling like they won't have to pay us what they owe us and that's not the case. Going forward is what we're talking about. So there will not be any sort of refund - but customers will see lower bills."

That reduction, along with the lower price of gas overall, and what will likely be a milder winter than last - could mean people will pay significantly less to heat their homes this year.