(KFVS) - Ameren Illinois has announced their customers can expect continued moderate natural gas prices during the upcoming 2011-2012 heating season.

Ameren Illinois says during the 2010-2011 heating season, their customers paid an average of 61 cents per therm. They anticipate this heating season price to average 62 cents per therm.

“We anticipate customer natural gas prices for this winter will be similar to prices paid last winter,” said Ameren Illinois Vice President of Gas and Electric Technical Services Scott A. Glaeser. “This moderate trend is the result of increased North American natural gas supply due to the rapid development of shale gas throughout the U.S., continued sluggish domestic and global economies and soft worldwide demand for all forms of energy.”

Ameren Illinois says it does not profit from the cost of natural gas paid by customers.

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, IL (KFVS) - The Keep Cool Illinois campaign has made over 120 facilities across the state into cooling centers. All cooling centers will be open during normal business hours; Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Williamson County cooling center is located at 1107 West DeYoung in Marion, Ill.

Other local cooling centers include:

• Franklin County - 1602 North Main Street in Benton, Ill.
• Jackson County - 342 North Street in Murphysboro, Ill.
• Jefferson County - 333 Potomac Boulevard in Mt. Vernon, Ill.

For more information, you can call the Illinois Department of Human Services hotline at 800-843-6154 or visit them online for a complete list of cooling centers.

Copyright 2011 KFVS. All rights reserved.  

CARTERVILLE, IL (KFVS) - A viewer sent us this picture on Friday of a thunderhead cloud over Carterville.

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Copyright 2011 KFVS. All rights reserved.