Columbia Gas announces possible rate decrease

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania wants to lower its rates for area customers.

An advertisement which appeared in Monday’s Tribune-Review announced the utility’s request with the Pennsylvania Utility Commission for an adjustment of $17 million, starting Oct. 1. The request is an annual adjustment in gas cost rates that sets the rate charged for natural gas used during the next heating season.

The PUC is reviewing the request. The PUC can grant all, some or none of the request.

If the entire request is approved, residential customers who purchase 70 therms would see a decrease of almost 4 percent in their bills. This means, a bill of $100 would decrease to $96.47.

Commercial customers who buy almost 170 therms of gas would see a decrease of about 5 percent while an industrial customer who buys 1,305 therms of gas would see a decrease of almost 6 percent.

According to the published notice, challenges to the utility’s request can be made by filing a formal complaint, sending a letter to the PUC describing the objection to the rate decrease or be a witness at a public input hearing, if one is held for the request.

“Decreases in rates tend to draw fewer comments, complaints or opposition than rate increase requests — but any proposed change in rates (up or down) attracts attention from advocates, consumer groups, business and industrial groups, individual consumers, etc., who are interested in discussing how the rate change will impact them,” PUC Press Secretary Nils Hagen-Frederiksen said in an email to the Tribune-Review.

A petition to intervene has already been filed by a group representing industrial customers.

According to the petition, Glen-Gery Corp. and Hanover Foods Corp. are asking for an intervention based on the significant amount of natural gas the companies use. The companies are receiving service from the utility under transportation rate schedules, the filing reads. Changes to the rates will impact how much money the companies spend on natural gas.

“We may see others seek to intervene in the case as it moves forward, as groups and/or individuals seek to have their specific voices included in the discussion,” Hagen-Frederiksen said.

To learn how the request could impact individual bills, call 1-888-460-4332. The case can be followed online.

In December 2018, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania increased its rates by more than 4 percent, or $26 million. The utility was seeking a raise in rates by $46.9 million, or more than 8 percent.