NECN's business editor Peter Howe was on the Business Beat to talk about soaring electric rates predicted for the winter.

"There's an incredible dependence on natural gas to both keep the region warm and run power plants. More than 50 percent of the electricity we're getting comes from power plants," Howe said. "We've come close a couple time to literally not having enough gas to keep houses warm and the lights on."

Howe also discussed EMC M & A rumors, the Citizens Bank IPO, Boston's new arts chief, and iPhone 6 sales and bending.