Phila. region seeing higher natural-gas rates

Natural gas rates went up today in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties, reflecting an increase in commodity prices.

Philadelphia Gas Works said rates are going up 2.6 percent, from $1.55 to $1.59 per hundred cubic feet, costing the residential heating customers an average $3.44 more a month for the next three months.

Peco Energy Co., which serves natural gas customers in the suburbs, said its gas rates are increasing about 4 percent to $1.32 per hundred cubic feet. The new rate will cost a typical residential customer about $4 more a month.

The utilities are permitted to adjust their rates quarterly to reflect changes in the market price they pay for natural gas.