Posted: September 11, 2005 at 9:30 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- You've seen prices at the pump skyrocket because of the Katrina disaster. Now, Pacific Gas & Electric says Bay Area customers should expect to see their natural gas bills go higher as well.

The utility says customers could see their bill rise about 40 percent and that Katrina-related price hikes could kick in as soon as the next couple of weeks.

The average residential PG&E customer will pay $43 more than usual in January, according to the company.

Federal officials say Katrina shut down nearly 20 percent of the nation's natural gas production and may not be restored for months.

PG&E has already proposed a 10 percent hike in electricity rates for next year because of rising natural gas prices.

(Copyright 2005, KRON 4. All rights reserved.)