Cromwell - Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will soon unveil his proposed "comprehensive energy strategy" that would significantly expand home and business access to natural gas.

The plan calls for making natural gas available to an additional 250,000 residents and 75 percent of all businesses within seven years.

Switching to gas could reduce the average bill for a residential heating fuel customer to about $1,600 a year from $3,400, according to the governor's prepared remarks.