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UGI Utilities, Inc. natural gas customers will see another quarterly increase this year when higher rates go into effect on Thursday.

The average residential heating customer’s bill will increase by 7.6% to $114.83 per month from $106.69.

The regulated public utility said it’s due to “increased global demand” and will be reflected in the purchased gas cost rate, what the company pays on the wholesale market for the fuel.

“Energy prices in general, including natural gas, have continued to rise due to increased global demand, among other factors”Chris Brown, UGI Vice President and General Manager of Rates and Supply, said Wednesday. “UGI works closely with our suppliers to ensure our customers continue to receive strong value in choosing natural gas and understands the impact that this rate increase will have on our customers.”

Brown added that despite the increase, natural gas remains an economical energy choice with local and reliable shale gas supplies. Production from the Marcellus Shale helps keep prices in Pennsylvania lower than in other parts of the country.

By law, utilities are required to pass the cost of the natural gas they purchase directly through to customers without any markup. Utilities can adjust the rates quarterly based on market fluctuations. Rates last went up on June 1.

UGI said there are a number of options to assist customers who might have difficulty paying their heating bills. The company said it offers budget billing, multiple free payment options to customers who enroll in the online bill payment program or the auto-deduction program to assist customers in managing payments.

Customers with a limited or fixed income should call UGI at 1-800-UGI-WARM to determine if they are eligible for one of a number of energy assistance programs. In addition, UGI can assist eligible customers in applying for federally-funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP grants.

Additional information about UGI is available at www.ugi.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ugiutilities and Twitter at www.twitter.com/ugi_utilities.