Hurricane Rita and an anticipated increase in heating demand are expected to stretch natural gas supplies even further. And, according to the Natural Gas Supply Association, that's likely resulting in higher wholesale costs this winter. In its annual assessment, the association says natural gas markets so far appear to be compensating for Hurricane Katrina-related supply disruptions. An analysis by the NGSA says weather is the largest single factor affecting demand and customer bills, and it is also the most difficult to predict. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration is projecting a winter colder than last winter, which was the eighth warmest on record. Cambridge Energy Research Associates estimates that if every consumer would lower his home thermostat by two degrees, heating customers could compensate for the production loss caused by Hurricane Katrina.  

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