ERIE — National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. has submitted a decrease to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for its quarterly adjustment to gas supply charges.

This adjustment decreases the monthly bill of a typical residential customer with annual usage of 100,300 cubic feet of gas by $1.17, from $70.35 to $69.18. This 1.66 percent decrease is to become effective Feb. 1.

Resulting from the abundant supply of Marcellus Shale gas and benefitting northwestern Pennsylvania homes and businesses, market prices for natural gas remain at 13-year lows. Nearly all of the gas consumed by National Fuel utility customers comes from Pennsylvania- produced shale gas.

National Fuel’s price-to-compare gas commodity charge also will decrease to $0.37198 per 100 cubic feet (ccf). This reference point, detailed on the National Fuel bill under Gas Supply Charges, is important for customers who are shopping for an alternate gas supplier.

Gas supply charges are passed along to customers dollar for dollar, with no mark-up or profit to National Fuel. Pennsylvania utility companies are permitted to update gas supply charges on a quarterly basis to reflect changes in the market price of natural gas. The next opportunity to adjust gas supply charges will be May 1.