Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

05/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/01/2024 14:40

PUC Public Input Hearings Set for May 21st and 22nd for Rate Increase Sought by Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania

PUC Public Input Hearings Set for May 21st and 22nd for Rate Increase Sought by Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania

Published on 5/1/2024

Filed under: Gas

Four In-Person and Telephonic Hearings Provide Opportunities to Gather Public Input from Customers and Other Concerned Parties

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced the scheduling of a series of four in-person and telephonic hearings on May 21st and May 22nd to gather public input on the request by Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Inc. (Columbia) to increase rates for natural gas distribution services. Columbia provides natural gas distribution services to approximately 444,200 customers in portions of 26 counties across western and south-central Pennsylvania.

PUC Public Input Hearings

Two in-person hearings have been scheduled for the following date, times and location:

  • Tuesday, May 21, 2024 - Washington, Washington County
    Hearing #1 will begin at 1 p.m.
    Hearing #2 will begin at 6 p.m.

Both hearings will be held at the following location:

Washington County Courthouse
 Courtroom #2
1 South Main Street
Washington, PA 15301

Additionally, two telephonic public input hearings have been scheduled for the following date and times:

  • Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Hearing #1 will begin at 1 p.m.
Hearing #2 will begin at 6 p.m.
*Registration deadline is 10 a.m. on May 22, 2024

PUC Administrative Law Judge Jeffrey Watson will preside over the public input hearings.

Signing Up for the Public Input Hearings

IN-PERSON HEARINGS: Pre-registration is not required in order to testify at an in-person public input hearing. There will be a sign-up sheet in the hearing room.

TELEPHONIC HEARINGS: If you wish to testify at a May 22, 2024, telephonic public input hearing, you must pre-register with the PUC's Office of Administrative Law Judge.

Individuals will testify in the order in which they pre-register.

To pre-register to testify by telephone, please contact the Judge Watson's legal assistant, Mary Swarner, no later than 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, either by phone at (412) 565-3555 or by email at [email protected]. If you do not register in advance, you may not be able to testify.

When registering, please provide the following:

  • Your first and last name.
  • The date and time of the public hearing at which you wish to testify.
  • The phone number you will be using to call into the hearing.
  • A phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing, if different.
  • Your address and email address (if you have one).
  • If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.

If you do not wish to testify, but want to listen to the public input hearings, you do not need to register. Instead, you may call into the hearing using the call-in information listed in the hearing notice.

Requests for Interpreters

If you require an interpreter, please pre-register as soon as possible. If you register too close to the hearing date, there not be enough time to arrange for an interpreter. If you request an interpreter, every reasonable effort will be made to have one present.

Hearing Exhibits

If you have any hearing exhibits to which you will refer during the hearing, please email them to the Mary Swarner at [email protected]. Ms. Swarner will forward your exhibits to all parties.

Exhibits for the in-person public input hearings on May 21, 2024, must be received by 10 a.m. on May 21, 2024. Exhibits for the telephonic public input hearings on May 22, 2024, must be received by 10 a.m. on May 22, 2024.

Offering Testimony at a Public Input Hearing

The PUC offers tips on how to participate in a public input hearing, including:

  • Prepare what you are going to say beforehand. Even though it is not required, you may want to write out your statement, which can be read.
  • Any formal testimony that is offered during the hearing will become part of the record on which the PUC will issue its final decision.
  • Understand that parties in the case may want to ask you a question to clarify something you said.

Columbia Rate Increase Request

On April 4, 2024, the Commission voted 5-0 to investigate Columbia's rate increase request, which was filed on March 15, 2024.

The changes proposed by Columbia would produce an overall operating revenue increase of $124.1 million (15.79%) per year. Under the proposal, the total monthly bill for a residential customer using 70 therms of gas would increase from $118.16 to $136.92 (15.88%).

For Columbia's commercial customers, the total monthly bill for a small commercial customer using 150 therms of gas would increase from $196.43 to $226.24 (15.18%). Rates for a small industrial customer using 1,215 therms of gas per month would increase from $1,281.25 to $1,452.98 (13.4%).

A final PUC decision on Columbia's rate increase request is due by Dec. 14, 2024.

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC's website at www.puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. Search for the "Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission" or "PA PUC" on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Docket No.:
R-2024-3046519

Contact: