As coal plants close around the country, the demand for natural gas is going up. But an expert says it likely won’t have a big effect on Hoosier’s heating bills in the long run.

The utility says the retirements are not yet final but are "the most viable option for customers" under a plan to be submitted to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission by Nov. 1

Logansport Municipal Utilities shut down its plant in early 2016 after deciding it couldn't afford updates needed to meet rules established under former President Barack Obama.

The Affordable Clean Energy rule is the Trump administration's replacement for the Obama-era Clean Power Plan.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor says Vectren needs to explore all its options before it builds a new $780 million natural gas plant.

IPL forecasts that the plant’s capacity factor — or how often it can run — will increase to 70 percent next year. That’s up from less than 60 percent in 2015.

A planned $2.5 billion diesel fuel facility would be located on a 550-acre site annexed by the town of Dale last year.

Coal production is up almost 2 percent from the same time last year and about 15 percent from 2016.

While rates have been on the rise, the Hoosier state is burning less coal for electricity. Coal accounted for 65 percent of the fuel used for electricity in 2016, down from 85 percent in 2007.

The study finds cheap natural gas and declining power demand are driving coal and nuclear power plant closures.