Jefferson Cocke County Utility District (JCCUD) General Manager Tommy Bible said the massive tropical storm that struck the northeast has had little to no impact on natural gas prices or availability in East Tennessee.

Demand for propane and oil-based products such as gasoline had already been falling. Natural gas prices, including the local rate, were lower last month. Bible said commissioners approved a rate for residential users of $1.01 per decatherm and 39 cents for interruptible industrial customers.

At the national level, propane storage is usually about 60 million gallons level just before the arrival of winter. This year there are more than 75 million gallons of propane in storage.

JCCUD's propane storage is full and prices are stable and expected to stay that way this winter.

For more details, please see the weekend edition of the Newport Plain Talk.