West Palm Beach-based FPU (Amex: FPU, $18.12) used its $59,000 storm-reserve fund mostly to prepare for the four hurricanes that struck Florida as well as to pay for workers who were on hand to take care of possible emergencies such as a gas leak, said George Bachman, FPU's treasurer and chief financial officer.

The company, which is Palm Beach County's largest provider of natural gas, is waiting for additional storm-related repair expenses from October and November before giving the Florida Public Service Commission the final tab. FPU will try to recover at least $375,000 in storm costs and expects the number to grow once repair costs are added, company officials said.

The PSC must approve the surcharge, which FPU expects will not happen until early next year.

"The rubber meets the road when they file something, and those expenses are audited," PSC spokesman Kevin Bloom said Thursday. PSC's staff, as well as the Office of Public Counsel, will review the information, Bloom said.

For FPU's customers, the proposed charge could be the second time consumers' bills have gone up in recent months.

FPU began collecting a total of $1.2 million from consumers in the form of higher base rates starting in August. A second base- rate hike, which will give the company an additional $4.7 million, goes into effect Thursday.

Residents using an average of 20 therms a month of natural gas will see their bills rise $2.97, to $33.45 from $30.48. The company has about 91,000 customers across the state, 48,000 of whom are in Palm Beach, Broward, Volusia and Seminole counties.

Meanwhile, FPU said its third-quarter earnings jumped to $221,000, or 5 cents a share, compared with a loss of $82,000, or 2 cents a share, the year before. Revenue for the quarter ended Sept. 30 was $24.1 million, up from $21.6 million in 2003.

Total natural gas revenue was $829,000, $104,000 of which was from FPU's increased base rates, while $725,000 was from the soaring cost of fuel, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

"When fuel costs go up, they are passed onto consumers, and it does increase your revenues," Bachman said Thursday.