Cookeville Gas Experiencing 13-Year High In Natural Gas Rates

Cookeville Gas customers receiving bill stuffers this month explaining the reason behind the city’s 13-year high in natural gas rates.

Director Amber Greenwood said the insert breaks down the rates based on fixed and purchasing costs.

“We recognize that the rates are going up,” Greenwood said. “They are higher than last year. About 30 percent more than last winter and likely 50 percent more than the 2020 winter season.”

Greenwood said she wanted to send out the bill stuffers to be transparent about what makes up the gas price.

“I found it unlikely that the average customer would know that breakdown,” Greenwood said. “We wanted to give a thorough look into what makes up that gas price.”

Greenwood said rates started to rise in 2021 after the pandemic. Greenwood said as more businesses reopened and productions restarted, the need for natural gas went up. Greenwood said international factors also play a role.

“A cold winter will reduce the reserves and lead to higher spring prices,” Greenwood said. “But, only time will tell what these rates will do.”