By Debby Woodin

dwoodin@joplinglobe.com

Button up and be prepared.

That’s the advice for dealing with winter heating costs.

Low demand for fuel now while the weather is mild has driven prices down, but it’s hard to say what size bills the coldest months of the season will bring, utilities and consumer groups say.

Kerry Cordray, of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, said fuel prices aren’t as high as expected — yet.

“Earlier in the summer, there was some significant concern about natural-gas rates being much higher. That has moderated somewhat. We’re actually slightly down compared to last year’s cost. The variable is what’s the weather going to be like?”

Kelsey Angle, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Springfield, said the area’s long-term outlook came out Thursday for November, December and January. It predicts warmer-than-normal winter temperatures.

“We’re looking at a pretty strong possibility of above-normal temperatures over that three-month time frame. Now, that’s average temperatures. That doesn’t mean we’re not going to have some cold temperatures,” Angle cautions.

The forecast, issued by the Climate Prediction Center, isn’t clear on how much precipitation the area may get.

Natural gas is the heating source of choice for half of U.S. households and a larger percentage of area residents, according to Missouri Gas Energy, the utility that supplies customers in the Joplin area.

Jason Fulp, community affairs representative for MGE, said the gas company will file its request to set winter rates within the next few days with the Missouri Public Service Commission. The company will not disclose what rates it will request before they’re filed, Fulp said.

Amy Bass, of Empire District Electric Co., said the utility’s electric rates won’t change except for a fuel-adjustment charge the company will ask for April 1. Under an earlier PSC ruling, the electric company will be allowed to make a charge every six month on bills for any increase in costs the company experiences when it is buying energy from outside sources.

Bass said the company cannot predict prices because it is publicly traded and regulated.

Cordray said natural-gas and electric users probably won’t be the worst hit.