The number of customers signing up for Black Hills Energy's fixed-price natural gas program continues to decline.
The company said a little more than 10,000 households signed up for its Annual Price Option program, which allows residential customers to lock in their natural gas rate over the next 12 months. That's down from more than 12,000 last year and 13,500 the previous year.
Black Hills Spokeswoman Jennifer Peters said the decline in signups is likely due to a combination of mild weather and lower gas prices.
"Pure speculation, but with gas prices consistently low this year and coming off a relatively mild winter, customers seem more at ease heading into the heating season," Peters said in an email.
This year's projected price for the annual price option is 65.6 cents per therm, slightly higher than last year's price of 62.1 cents per therm. One therm is about 100,000 British thermal units. Two years ago, it was 88 cents per therm.
Grand Island, the largest high school in Nebraska, cancels girls varsity basketball season
Sound waves: What others are saying about Nebraska's loss at Indiana
‘It’s all there, it’s just not there’: Searched on I-80 in York for $15 worth of marijuana
WWE star Hulk Hogan promoting beer’s introduction to Nebraska
Pink concert at Lincoln arena postponed, officials say
Papillion dog, who loved pears and a select few, euthanized after tough life
Winter outlook not favorable to drought relief in Nebraska
Hulk Hogan, WWE Hall of Famer, visits Lincoln to promote new beer
Cover Five: Questions abound as a stunned Matt Rhule apologizes for Nebraska's latest loss
Husker notes: Matt Rhule explains his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of season
Nebraska principal placed on administrative leave
Nebraska football's home game against UCLA gets time, TV designation
Luke's Extra Points: An ill-timed fumble, a costly kickoff mistake, Rhule takes blame
Lincoln Journal Star 2024 Election Voter's Guide: Local candidates on the issues
Amie Just: As Indiana surges toward the CFP, Nebraska is left searching for answers
Listen now and subscribe: | | | |
Spot U.S. natural gas prices as of Oct. 14 were at $2.34 per million British thermal units, which is about 60 cents lower than at the same time last year and less than half as much as in October 2022.
The Energy Information Administration forecasts prices to rise to about $2.80 per BTU by the end of the year and to about $3.10 next year, which would match the highest price so far this year.
Though Lincoln has seen a much-warmer-than-normal fall so far, the forecast for the winter is unclear.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's winter forecast released last week gives Nebraska an equal chance of above- or below-average temperatures this winter.
Black Hills does not market the program as a way to save money but rather a way to have predictable natural gas costs throughout the year. While the price of natural gas is fixed for those who sign up, bills can still fluctuate based on usage.
Top Journal Star photos for October 2024
Norris' Crew Moeller (4) dives into the endzone over Waverly's Trev Greve (2) to score a touchdown in the second quarter to score a on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Norris High School.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln North Star junior Skyler Shaw practices welding at The Career Academy. Ten years since its grand opening, The Career Academy at Lincoln Public Schools has more than doubled its enrollment and district officials expect that growth to continue.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Factory Manager Dan Neil (from left), associate maintenance manager Tanner Winberg, predictive maintenance tech Kenny Rose, PDM Tech Chu Fung Wong, and IT tech Gary Schellhorn pose for a photo alongside their new Boston Dynamics robot dog Spot at Nestle Purina Petcare Company on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Crete.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Gretna's Alexis Jensen celebrates after the final out of the fifth inning during a Class A state tournament game on Thursday in Hastings.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Oliver Degner, 4, (from left) Charlotte Degner, 6, and Noelle Gormley, 7, all of Lincoln, run to the finish line during the Pumpkin Run on Sunday in Lincoln's Haymarket.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Erika Madison, Capital Humane Society animal welfare specialist manager, weighs a Goldendoodle on a scale during intake on Friday. The city of Lincoln is balking at signing a new long-term contract with the humane society to provide shelter for stray animals after the amount nearly tripled over previous years.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Russ Marr works on a wooden portion of "Vlad the Impaler" — an art piece depicting a goose that has the fangs of a vampire, the tongue of a serpent and the tail of a rattlesnake. The body of the piece uses an original tank from a 1977 Harley-Davidson Super Glide.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Malcolm's Cole Tiedeman (center) celebrates with his teammates after the Clippers defeated Raymond Central 27-19 on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at Raymond Central High School.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln Northwest High School seniors Brookelynn Wheeler (from left), Tyjian Deerinwater, Kareem Yahya and Haylie Helmick investigate a crime scene during a forensics class on Tuesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Lincoln Lutheran's McKenzie Sidlo (center from left) goes to hit the ball over the net while defended by Pius X's McKenzie Becker and Faith Venable (2) during the third set on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at Lincoln Lutheran High School
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
As seen from outside the UNL Union, Sen. Deb Fischer (right) speaks about her responsibilities as a senator and answers questions from students during a UNL College Republicans meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, at the UNL Union. Fischer, the Republican from Nebraska seeking her third term in the US Senate.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest's Ja'Sara Wilson kicks up dirt as she slides into second base in the first inning of the A-2 district championship on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, at Doris Bair Complex .
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Henry Oetjen augers corn from his combine into a grain cart while harvesting on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Oetjen Farms near Walton.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Pius X's Faith Venable (left) is mobbed by her teammates after scoring the set winning kill in the second set on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at Lincoln Lutheran High School
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
From left, Nola Broderick, 7, and her twin Rose Broderick ride their bikes past the Halloween decorations at the home of Wade and Debbie McGinnis at 5043 Leighton Avenue is seen on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Lincoln.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Malcolm players are silhouetted by the sun as they warm up before the game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Malcolm High School.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Nebraska players huddle up the North endzone in the fourth quarter against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Wicked Bones band members Marshall Johnson (left) and Jobe Sullivan rock out onstage during at UNL's Battle of the Bands on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, at the Bourbon Theatre. Six local bands comprised of UNL students competed for a spot to perform as part of UNL's homecoming. The final two bands will perform during Cornstock on Friday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska's Isaac Gifford (2), Nebraska's Ceyair Wright (15), DeShon Singleton (8) and Nebraska's MJ Sherman (48) celebrate a defensive stop during the third quarter of the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Nebraska's Jahmal Banks is defended by Rutgers' Eric Rogers is ruled as a incomplete pass, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Mark Thornton, executive director of Jacob's Well, sees potential in an old grocery store at 2001 J St. He hopes to create a new gather place and make it part of the neighborhood again.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest's Sage Strait competes in the Girls 5K during the LPS cross country championships at Pioneers Park on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Norris' Crew Moeller (4) stiff-arms Lincoln Pius X's Sam Kassmeier during the first quarter on Friday at Aldrich Field.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Teacher Maileigh Camp holds Tailey Helmstadter, 7 months, at an Early Head Start classroom Tuesday at the Community Action Head Start K Street Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest's Brenly Noerrlinger (from left), Ja'Sara Wilson and Hadley Madson sing a chant during a game against Fremont on Tuesday at Doris Bair Complex.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
USC's Ally Batenhorst (left) reacts as Nebraska fans cheer for her before Sunday's match at the Devaney Sports Center.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Amy Bolton arranges several skeletons in tutus as she decorates her front yard for Halloween on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, at her Lincoln home near 48th and High Street. Bolton has been decorating her yard with skeletons since she bought her home in 2020.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!