PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- You might be able to keep the thermostat a bit higher this winter and it not burn a hole in your wallet.  Mark Hanson with Montana-Dakota Utilities says natural gas could be less expensive this heating season.

Hanson says part of the reason for the estimated lower costs is production of natural gas supplies catching up following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hanson says currently there is plenty of natural gas on standby.

The cost of natural gas is a straight pass-through to customers with utilities not making a profit on the service.  Prices are also subject to monthly changes based on wholesale market fluctuations. Montana-Dakota serves approximately 57-thousand 600 natural gas customers in 25 South Dakota communities.