MORGANTOWN – The state Public Service Commission has held a hearing and set a deadline for the parties to wrap up negotiations on Hope Gas’ rate-hike proposal for its Pipeline Replacement and Expansion Program – PREP.
And Hope also has before the PSC its 2025 Purchased Gas Application (PGA) case that accounts for Hope’s costs to buy the gas it distributes. That rate-hike proposal is just under way, with Hope filing an updated application Sept. 11.
In the PREP case, following last week’s hearing, the PSC ordered initial and response briefs to be filed by Sept. 22 and Sept. 30, respectively, and for negotiations to conclude and by filed by Oct. 6.
PREP program charges are authorized in state code for “cost recovery of projects to replace, upgrade, and expand natural gas utility infrastructure that are deemed to be just and reasonable and in the public interest.”
Hope’s proposed residential PREP rate increases are: existing Hope customers, $2.06 (2.4%); former Peoples Gas, $2.03 (2.58%); former Southern Public Service Company, $1.62 (2.92%); former Standard/Bazzle Gas, $1.80 ( 2.6%); former Consumers Gas, $1.70 (2.45%).
PSC staff has proposed smaller hikes: existing Hope customers, $1.46 (1.70%); former Peoples Gas, $1.44 (1.83%); former Southern Public Service Company, $1.15 (2.07%); former Standard/Bazzle Gas, $1.28 (1.85%); former Consumers Gas, $1.20 (1.74%).
PGA case
Hope is in the process of equalizing its rates for its legacy customers and those acquired through purchases of other companies in 2023 and 2024. Hope proposes to have the new PGA rates take effect Nov. 1.
The PSC referred the case to the state Administrative Law Judge Division, with an interim decision due by Oct. 10 and a final decision due by March 30, 2026.
Here are the proposed monthly increases for the various groups of residential customers: Hope Gas (legacy), $6.38 (7.33%); former Peoples Gas, $6.36 (7.88%); former Southern Public Service, $5.36 (9.38%); former Standard/Bazzle, $5.80 (8.17%); former Consumers Gas, $5.54 (7.83%).
Hope points out that the proposed new rates are based on averages of all customers in the group and actual increases may vary.
Hope also has under way a base-rate case that it filed with the PSC on April 30. This is its first base-rate case since 2020.
The proposed hikes for residential customers in this case are: existing Hope Gas, $21.10 (25.41%); former Peoples Gas, $27.17 (35.42%); former Southern Public Service, $33.74 (60.77%); former Standard/Bazzle, $28.46 (40.39%); former Consumers Gas, $22.25 (33.61%).
Again, these proposals are averages; actual increases may vary.
