CUMBERLAND (AP) — The developer hasn’t even broken ground yet, but businesses and homeowners in Cumberland, Yarmouth and Falmouth are already signing up for natural gas service.

Summit Natural Gas is preparing to break ground on the pipeline soon.

Service is scheduled to begin in parts of the towns later this year. By the end of 2017, Summit says it will extend pipeline to more than 80 percent of the towns.

The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/1mqVV2a ) reported that more than 250 households and 25 businesses have already signed up.

The reason is savings. According to information from Cumberland, a homeowner who burns 850 gallons of oil per year could save $1,130 annually by burning natural gas instead.

The cost of switching a home or business to natural gas can cost from $2,500 to $7,000.