One would think that the unusually mild weather this winter would have lowered gas bills for residents in the north country.

But those who took a closer look at their bills from National Grid would have noticed an “adjustment for weather” line that increased fees to make up for the higher temperatures.

National Grid administers a “weatherization adjustment” for November through March that either charges customers when the weather is abnormally warm or reimburses them when bills are unusually high, spokeswoman Virginia J. Limmiatis said.

Those payments are determined based on weather that’s colder or warmer than normal than a 30-year average for upstate New York.

Because of the warmer weather, “our forecast this year ing season has been extremely warm compared to the forecasted average, which is why customers are being charged.”

In January, for example, residents in upstate New York saw an average charge for the line item of $1.70; last year in January, when temperatures were lower than normal, they were reimbursed an average of 39 cents.

For more information about customer bills, visit http://www.nationalgridus.com/niagaramohawk/myBillElectric.html?WT.mc_id=Insideyourbill_NY.

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