Natural gas prices drop

Natural gas prices for customers of Chester-based Columbia Gas of Virginia will drop about 6.3 percent in March in comparison to February levels.

The company said Friday that a typical residential customer using 100 Ccf (cubic feet) of natural gas per month can expect a total monthly bill of $114.73,  down from $122.56 in February.

Columbia’s quarterly purchased gas cost adjustment, which is approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, reflects the effects of the projected cost of natural gas for March, April and May.

By law, utilities pass through to consumers the costs they pay for natural gas on a dollar-for-dollar basis without markup.

“The current natural gas costs reflect continued strength and consistency in domestic natural gas production, which provides a variety of benefits for industries, businesses and individual consumers,” Carl Levander, Columbia’s president, said in a statement.

Columbia Gas of Virginia provides natural gas to customers in portions of Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, suburban Richmond, Central Virginia,  the Shenandoah Valley, the Lynchburg region and parts of Western Virginia.