Natural gas heating customers of Rochester Gas and Electric Corp (RG&E) could pay about 19 percent less to heat their homes this winter than they did last year - if the weather is the same, according to RG&E officials.

The drop in heating costs is due to lower prices that RG&E is paying on the open market for gas, was well as slightly lower rates to deliver the gas to customer premises. Based on current prices, an average residential customer should pay about $682 to heat his or her home from November through March. That compares to about $844 last winter.

Actual heating costs depend on the weather. If the weather is colder than last winter, an average customer will pay more than the forecast. If the weather is warmer, the customer could pay less than the projection.

RG&E passes on its cost of gas to customers without markup. The company retains payment for the cost of distributing gas over its local system. Rates to set that payment have been flat since 1994, and dropped slightly last year. Gas prices could be affected by disruption of markets because of international or national security events.

Although gas costs this year are well below last year, RG&E still urges customers to conserve usage as a way to save money. Conservation measures include using an automatic setback thermostat, installing proper insulation and sealing leaks around windows and doors.