Louisiana customers paying less this summer

LOUISIANA - Energy bills for Louisiana customers are expected to be lower this summer.

Natural gas prices have fallen from more than $13 per million British thermal units to $3.56 per million Btu over a year's time.

Electricity customers in Louisiana pay for the utilities' cost of producing electricity in the base rates on their bills, then pay a separate charge for the cost of fuel used to produce electricity.

From June 2008 to June 2009, fuel charges have fallen by 77 percent at Entergy New Orleans Inc. At Entergy Louisiana LLC, the charges have fallen by 53.2 percent.

Entergy Louisiana President Renae Conley said the decrease comes at a time when electricity use is at its highest.