Southwest Gas gets rate decrease

Southwest Gas customers will receive a 6 percent average decrease in natural gas bills starting next month, Nevada officials decided Thursday.

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada approved the decrease based on lower natural gas costs to the company.

The rate change will save Northern Nevada Southwest Customers bout $5.50 a month on an average $80 gas bill. It takes effect Nov. 1.

"We're very pleased to be able to decrease customers' rates by so much," Roger Montgomery, the utility's vice president of pricing, said Thursday, "especially since the winter heating season is just starting.

"It demonstrates Southwest's determination to search for and buy the best-priced gas for its customers."