Missouri Gas Energy customers will benefit from lower natural gas costs this winter for the second year in a row. Credit this to the very low prices being paid for natural gas.

The company also has a request pending to raise rates. Credit that to MGE’s recent efforts to upgrade its pipelines.

On Thursday, MGE filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission to lower the Cost of Gas rate to $0.56 per hundred cubic feet of natural gas.

In a news release, the company says this will result in a savings to customers of $3.2 million annually.

This rate appears on bills as “Cost of Gas” and accounts for nearly 60 percent of a typical residential customer bill. This represents the cost that MGE pays for natural gas.

The remaining 40 percent is made up of the infrastructure, operating and maintenance costs MGE incurs to deliver that gas safely and reliably to homes and businesses. Those costs are expected to go up soon, as the company continues efforts to recoup the cost of pipeline upgrades.

Those upgrades were expected to cost you about $2.33 per month above what you’re paying now.