GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Officials with Piedmont Natural Gas say they expect a milder winter this year and think natural gas bills will average $12 less a month for the company’s typical South Carolina residential customer.

The Greenville News reported (http://grnol.co/1zeLjgz) that the Charlotte, North Carolina, utility says this year’s forecast for November through March is very different from last season, when temperatures were about 10 percent colder than usual.