SOUTH DAKOTA(WNAX)- Last fall it appeared that natural gas prices could be very high through the winter. Instead, milder temperatures have dropped demand and prices.

Luke Hansen, Manager of Gas Supply for Northwestern Energy, says they are already getting gas contracts for next fall.

Hansen says their gas usage was up to end last year.

Hansen says they have enough gas available to finish out this winter without any price surprises.

Northwestern has about eighty thousand natural gas customers in eastern South Dakota and central Nebraska.