Piedmont Natural Gas announced two rate changes in South Carolina, which together will decrease the average residential customer's bill by approximately $16 per month compared to last winter.

For the average residential customer in South Carolina, these rate changes will result in an annual bill decrease of approximately 14 percent.

The new rates became effective on Nov. 1, 2018, and include the flow-through of tax reform benefits to customers associated with the 2017 Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Piedmont requests occasional rate adjustments to reflect changes in the commodity price of the natural gas purchased for its customers. Piedmont passes through fuel cost to customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

Details for the tax reform and the natural gas commodity price changes are outlined on Piedmont's website.

Winter 2018-2019 Outlook

According to the annual Winter Fuels Outlook from the Energy Information Association (EIA), temperatures for the upcoming winter period (November 2018 through March 2019) are expected to be roughly the same as last winter.

Residential customers could see higher or lower monthly bills than forecast depending on actual winter weather. Colder weather typically increases the amount of natural gas that a residential customer consumes.

Customers can estimate their home's energy consumption and compare appliance operating costs using Piedmont's free, online energy-saving tools at piedmontng.com/EnergySavingTools.

Piedmont's energy efficiency programs are outlined at piedmontng.com/Rebates, and here are the company's top five tips for saving energy this winter:

• Have your heating system inspected each year by a qualified professional to ensure it is working properly.

• Upgrade your old furnace to a new high-efficiency model (newer models can be up to 98 percent efficient).

• Install a programmable thermostat to maximize your energy savings.

• Change or clean your furnace filters each month during the heating season.

• Seal leaks around doors and windows with caulk or weather stripping to reduce unwanted drafts.