Ameren Illinois says its customers are benefiting from a drop in the cost of natural gas. The company also says because it purchases a significant amount of natural gas for customers during the summer and stores it for later use, the benefits will continue next winter.

Ameren reports the per-therm cost of natural gas has dropped by almost 35-percent, since last year. The price it at its lowest level since 2002, and Ameren says the gas supply charge for April will be 42.05 cents per therm. The amount compares to 51.94 cents per-therm during March, reflecting a decrease of 19 percent.

The continued decline in the cost of natural gas is a reflection of oversupplied market conditions caused by strong production growth from shale gas regions in the United States. The company says natural gas prices continue to decline in the U.S. due to record levels of natural gas production coupled with relatively flat demand.

94.1 WGFA