Piedmont Natural Gas wants to reduce rates for its customers in North Carolina and South Carolina.

The Charlotte Observer reported (http://bit.ly/Yd72TJ) the request would reduce the typical customer’s bill about $9 next month.

The Charlotte company says wholesale prices for natural gas are dropping.

The rate changes would take effect Feb. 1 and reduce residential rates by about 8 percent.

Piedmont serves about 1 million customers in the Carolinas and Tennessee.

• Associated Press