1.19.05 Average residential customer gas use/cost, Winter 2004-2005 The average residential M.U.D. customer used 734 therms of natural gas from November 2003 to March 2004 at a cost of $481. We estimate the average residential M.U.D. customer will use 746 therms of natural gas from November 2004 to March 2005 at a cost of $655. Calendar Year 2003: The average residential M.U.D. customer used 938 therms of natural gas at a cost of $612. Calendar Year 2004: We estimate the average residential M.U.D. customer used 865 therms of natural gas at a cost of $625. October through December -- Average residential customer gas use in a normal winter = 251 therms. October 2003 through December 2003 -- Average residential customer used 254 therms at a cost of $149.65. October 2004 through December 2004 -- Average residential customer used 215 therms at a cost of $174.22. The month of December -- normal winter -- average residential customer gas use = 150 therms Actual average residential customer gas use in December 2003: 141 therms = $85.36 Actual average residential customer gas use in December 2004: 125 therms = $100.93 The month of January -- normal winter -- average residential customer gas use = 193 therms Actual average residential customer gas use in January 2004: 174 therms = $127.22 Estimated average residential customer gas use in January 2005: 193 therms = $144.66 How many days of gas supply in storage does M.U.D. maintain? M.U.D. has three forms of gas storage: Liquified natural gas, propane and underground storage. The combined capacity of this storage equals 4.7 billion cu. ft. of gas. On a typical winter day, our customers use 180 million cu. ft. of gas. We maintain storage equal to 26 days of typical winter use. What is M.U.D.'s gas purchasing practice? M.U.D.'s gas purchasing philosophy is to buy it gas roughly 50% at market cost and 50% with long-term contracts. The market corrects itself over time, so our heavier reliance on market prices saves customers money in the long-run. How to Measure Natural Gas 1,000 cubic feet (1 Mcf) = 1,027 Btus (British thermal units of energy) 100 cubic feet = 1 therm (approximate) 1,000 cubic feet (1 Mcf) = 10 therms (a measurement of heating value also called a "dekatherm") 1,000 cubic feet (1 Mcf) = 1,027,000 Btus of energy 1,000 cubic feet (1 Mcf) = Enough natural gas to power an average home (heating, water-heating, cooking, etc.) for 4 /12 days. 1,000 cubic feet (1 Mcf) = In volume, equal to the space in a 10' x 12' x 8' room. 1 million (1,000,000) cubic feet (1MMcf) = 1 billion (1,027,000,000) Btu 10 million (10,000,000) cubic feet = Quantity on which a typical NYMEX natural gas futures contract is based. 1 billion (1,000,000,000) cubic feet (1 Bcf) = 1.027 trillion Btu 1 trillion (1,000,000,000,000) cubic feet (1 Tcf) = 1.27 quadrillion Btu (called "a quad") Click here to go to the top of this page

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