YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- Energy companies are rushing to assure adequate supplies of natural gas for the upcoming winter.

Luke Hansen, gas supply manager for Northwestern Energy, says they don’t have a lot of their own gas storage.

Hansen says their contracts for ongoing gas supply are pretty solid.

Hansen says if they need extra gas during the winter, they have to go to the open market.

Hansen says consumers should pay about the same for gas this winter due to the elimination of the Texas surcharge from last year.