JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Entergy Corp. will raise Mississippi customer bills to pay for higher natural gas bills as well as the company's recent purchase of a Jackson power plant.

Staff member Wendy Collins told members of the Mississippi Public Service Commission Wednesday that a residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours per month will see their bill rise $8.29. Entergy's average residential customer in Mississippi used 1,326 kilowatt hours per month in 2011, so bills for the average customer will rise more.

Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the increase.

Entergy says natural gas prices have risen by one-third since the last time the company filed to recoup fuel costs in August. The New Orleans-based company also recently completed the $206 million purchase of a natural gas power plant in Jackson from KGen Corp.

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