By Mike Boyer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Natural gas rates for Cincinnati Gas & Electric customers are going up next month, but not as much as expected.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio on Tuesday approved about a 7 percent increase in CG&E's gas cost recovery rate, the price it pays for natural gas plus adjustment, over the current rates. That's down from about a 20 percent increase the utility announced early in March. A spokesman said the company amended its original filing after wholesale gas prices, which had moved sharply higher at the start of the month, fell as temperatures rose.

The typical residential customer using 10,800 cubic feet of gas will pay $104.61 in April, up about $6.98 for the same amount this month.

Union Light Heat & Power, CG&E's Northern Kentucky sister company, also amended its rate increase, but the Kentucky Public Service Commission hasn't acted on that request, the utility said.

ULH&P residential customers using the same amount of gas will pay $105.62 next month, if the new rates are approved, up $4.76, or 5 percent, from the current rates.