If the Midwest sees normal temperatures this winter, home heating bills could decrease by as much as 30 percent, Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) announced Tuesday.

The decrease can be attributed to a number of factors. The price of natural gas on the wholesale market has fallen precipitously due to last winter's warmer-than-normal temperatures and this year's quiet hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico, where much of the nation's natural gas is produced.

Last winter was one of the warmest on record and the average heating bill for a NIPSCO customer last January was $187. If temperatures are normal in the Midwest this winter, the cost to heat a home this January could be approximately $115. If temperatures are colder than last winter, the cost to heat a home most likely will be higher as customers will be consuming more gas. Over the entire winter heating season - Nov. 1 to March 31 - the average residential customer could pay approximately $600 to heat their home, which represents a

30 percent decrease when compared to the same period last winter.

Earlier this year, NIPSCO submitted a plan with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to renew its Winter Warmth program, which has directed more than $10 million in assistance to 24,000 low-income customers. In addition, NIPSCO is partnering with community groups across its service area to host an Energy Fair. The first Energy Fair will be held in partnership with the Lake County Energy Task Force in Gary.