Natural gas customers in Caldwell County and throughout the state can expect lower bills this winter, thanks to “sharply lower” wholesale gas prices, Kentucky Public Service officials said Friday.

Customers can expect to pay about 39 percent less, on average, this November than last for 10,000 cubic feet of natural gas. Individual reductions will vary by company and customer usage, PSC officials said.

“Natural gas prices have come down considerably from the artificially high levels of last year,” PSC Chairman David Armstrong said.

“Furthermore, there is reason to think that we may see relatively stable prices for the next several years.”

Wholesale prices are at their lowest levels in at least six years — less than half the peak prices seen in 2008.

The wholesale costs make up the largest part of a customer’s gas bill and are passed to customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis by local distribution companies.

The wholesale cost of natural gas accounts for about 75 percent of a typical consumer’s winter bill. A typical Kentucky customer using 10 cubic feet of gas next month will pay a total monthly bill of $92.08, down $58.70 — approximately 38.9 percent — from the $150.78 average bill a year ago.

Atmos Energy, which supplies gas to Princeton, is one of the state’s five major suppliers.

Together, they serve more than 750,000 customers in Kentucky and deliver about 176 billion cubic feet of gas annually.

About 44 percent of the state’s residents heat their homes with natural gas. Customers who use propane and fuel oil can also expect lower prices.

The 39 percent of Kentuckians who use electric heat are expected to see relatively little change this winter, since the cost of coal, which generates more than 90 percent of Kentucky’s electricity has fluctuated less than the cost of other fuels.

Weather, Armstrong said, will always be the main factor in determining the amount of energy consumers use to heat their homes and thus the size of their heating bills.

The PSC encouraged residents to take measures to maximize their homes’ energy efficiency and conserve the energy they use.

“Lower energy prices do not negate the wisdom of taking steps that reduce energy consumption in the long term,” he said.

“Consumers would be wise to turn some of their immediate savings into permanent investments in weatherization and other measures that will pay off in coming years.”

Some steps recommended by the PSC include:

• Budget billing, which allows customers to pay the same amount each month;

• Conservation measures, such as turning down thermostats on furnaces and water heaters;

• Energy audits, provided by local utilities to identify energy-wasting trouble spots and provide information on how to correct the problems;

• Weatherization, by using caulk or weatherstripping to seal cracks around windows, doors, pipes and other points where cold air can enter the home and adding insulation in attics, crawlspaces and walls.

More information is available from the Kentucky Department for Energy Development and Independence on the Web at http://www.energy.ky.gov/dre3/.