MORGANTOWN – An administrative law judge has given interim approval for one of three hope Gas rate-hike requests pending before the Public Service Commission.
This one is Hope’s 2025 Purchased Gas Application (PGA) case that accounts for Hope’s costs to buy the gas it distributes.
Hope proposed to have the new PGA rates take effect Nov. 1. The ALJ, in his Tuesday order, said the new rates “shall be effective for all service rendered on and after Nov. 1, 2025, or on a monthly basis for Hope’s billing cycle commencing with its December 2025 billings, at Hope’s election.”
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%).
The ALJ ordered that PSC staff file its final substantive recommendation on this case no later than Dec. 19. The ALJ’s order is an interim order and his final decision due by March 30, 2026. If no parties in this case file exceptions, the order becomes a PSC order in 20 days.
Hope’s two other rate cases are for its Pipeline Replacement and Expansion Program – PREP – and for its base rates.
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%).
Hope’s base-rate case was 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%).
