‘It’s too much’: Consumer watchdog urges customers to speak up on Dominion natural gas rate increase - WJW FOX 8 News Cleveland

Dominion natural gas rate increase in Ohio

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WJW) — The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel is pushing back on Dominion Energ y ‘s proposed rate hike for natural gas distribution.

If approved by state regulators, it would cost the average Dominion customer 30% more, or more than $100 per year, according to a Friday news release from the office. An additional rider also under review would tack on nearly $9 to each monthly bill, rising to nearly $30 per month over the next eight years.

“It’s too much for Dominion consumers who are already facing financial difficulties with higher energy prices and inflation,” reads a Friday news release from the office, which represents residential consumers.

An example of a typical bill found on a Dominion Energy webpage dedicated to the rate hike shows the monthly basic service charge would increase by about $13.

That distribution charge is what customers pay Dominion to pipe natural gas to their home. It’s separate from what customers pay for the gas they use.

The increase, if approved, likely won’t take effect until next year, according to Dominion.

The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel has intervened in the case, which is now before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. In a new consumer alert, the watchdog urges residents to speak out during the proposed rate hike’s public comment period.

In-person hearings are expected to be announced this year. To request a hearing in your area, you can call the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio at 1-800-686-7826.

The Office of Ohio Consumers’ Counsel has requested a virtual hearing, to accommodate those unable to meet in-person. Dominion opposed the request, but the commission has yet to rule on it, according to the alert.

You can also submit public comment on the PUCO website, by clicking “File a Public Comment” on the upper-right part of the web page for Dominion’s rate case.

You can also write a letter to the commission referencing Dominion Energy and PUCO Case 23-894, and mail it to:

Public Utilities Commission of Ohio

180 E. Broad St., 11th Floor

Columbus, OH 43215

Dominion serves nearly 1.2 million residential customers, according to the office. Here’s why the providers is now asking them to pay more:

Over the last 16 years, Dominion Energy Ohio has invested more than $4 billion in its system infrastructure, of which roughly $1 billion has yet to be recovered in natural gas distribution rates.

This investment in infrastructure, which includes replacement of pipelines, meters, and other operational assets, has increased our property taxes and other expenses as well. In addition, since our last rate case was filed in 2007, operating and maintenance costs, such as labor, material, and construction expenses, have risen substantially.

…

As part of a settlement with the PUCO, Dominion Energy Ohio made a commitment in 2020 to file a natural gas distribution rate case to reflect its costs to deliver gas to customers and to recover the costs associated with operating and maintaining our equipment that allows us to provide service to customers in a safe manner that is reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible. Statement from Dominion Energy

The rate hike is expected to give Dominion a $212 million revenue boost, according to its application.

It won’t impact customers paying through Percentage of Income Payment Plans, or PIPP, according to Dominion.