Gas Bills Could Rise by 33.5%
(August 7) Gas bills for consumers could jump by between $30 and
$45 a month this winter, if rate-hike requests averaging 33.5 percent filed at the Public
Service Commission on Aug. 1 are approved. The five largest gas utilities in West Virginia
are seeking rate increases ranging from 24 percent to 48 percent.
Billy Jack Gregg, director of the PSC's consumer advocate
division, said the filings overall represent a 33.5 percent increase over current rates.
Last year, typical customers using 13,000 cubic feet of gas a month paid about $103 each
month, while this year they would pay about $138 "if the companies get what they
want," he said.
Mountaineer Gas Co., part of Allegheny Energy, is asking for an
increase of 31.6 percent, effective Nov. 1. Mountaineer is the largest gas utility in the
state, with 206,000 customers.
Dominion Hope, the second-largest gas utility, with 110,000
customers, filed for a 24 percent rate hike that would take effect Jan. l. It also wants
to boost its monthly service charge to $12.90 a month from $7.50 a month.
Other major requests pending at the PSC include: West Virginia
Power Gas Service, also owned by Allegheny Energy, which is seeking a 34 percent rate hike
effective Nov. 1; Bluefield Gas Co., which is asking for a 48 percent hike effective Nov.
1; and Equitable Gas Co., which is requesting a 31.5 percent increase effective Feb. 1.
Two-year moratoriums on rate increases by Dominion Hope and
Equitable expire this winter, on Jan. 1 and Feb. 1, respectively.
Nationwide, analysts expect consumers to pay about 20 percent
more to heat their homes with gas this winter. That figure could be even higher, depending
on the weather.
Consumers will pay about $70 billion more for natural gas this
year than they did in 2002, according to the American Chemistry Council. Price levels
already are at historic highs and will climb higher this winter, the council said.
Source: The Charleston Gazette