By Mike Boyer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Natural gas customers of Cinergy Corp. are facing their second double-digit price increase in as many months, as the extremely cold winter continues to push wholesale prices to record highs.

The result: The costs for a typical homeowner in Southwest Ohio will rise 98 percent from a year ago, while jumping 69 percent in Northern Kentucky.

HELP WITH BILLS

Home Energy Assistance Program: Pick up an application at your local Community Action Agency or call Cinergy at 421-9500 or (800) 282-0880. HeatShare: Eligible customers receive a one-time payment available through the end of May. To apply, call the Salvation Army at 762-5652.

By law, utilities such as Cinergy - the parent of Cincinnati Gas & Electric and Union Light Heat & Power in Northern Kentucky - can pass on to customers the cost of natural gas. Normally, cost is adjusted quarterly.

But the winter has been harsh - ranking as the second-coldest locally in 20 years. The cold here and across much of the country has cut natural gas supplies nationally to their lowest level since 1996.

As a result, Cinergy announced Friday that gas cost recovery rates would have to be readjusted for April and May - typically months when utility bills fall because people need less gas to heat, since temperatures are rising.

The increase for Ohio customers April 1 will be 20 percent over the rates that took effect March 1. (The March rates are 20 percent higher than those in effect December through February.)

In Northern Kentucky, rates will rise 17 percent April 1 over the rates that increased 21 percent this month.

For the typical residential Ohio customer using 10,800 cubic feet of natural gas, the monthly bill will go to $117.46 next month, up from the $59.33 the same amount of gas cost in April 2002.

In Northern Kentucky, the residential customer using 10,800 cubic feet will see a bill of $118.39 next month. That's up from $69.90 for the same amount of gas in April 2002.

E-mail mboyer@enquirer.com