The Commission voted 5-0 to investigate the Columbia Gas proposal to increase its annual operating revenues for natural gas distribution service by approximately $110.5 million (12.0%).
As filed, the total monthly bill for a residential customer using 70 therms per month would increase from $138.52 to $154.29 – an increase of 11.4%.
The proposed changes outlined in the Columbia Gas filing include a Revenue Normalization Adjustment mechanism to stabilize revenue regardless of fluctuations in customer usage; continuation and expansion of energy efficiency programs for residential and small commercial customers; and the establishment of an Economic Development Distribution Service tariff aimed at supporting large-volume customers.
The rate increase request is suspended and will be assigned to the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge for evidentiary hearings and the issuance of a recommended decision.
A final PUC decision is due by December 19, 2025.
As part of its investigation, the Commission will also begin the process of scheduling public input hearings to gather testimony from concerned consumers and interested stakeholders.
Dates, times, and locations for those hearings will be announced in a future PUC press release.
Consumers interested in sharing their perspectives on the rate request are encouraged to follow Commission announcements for upcoming opportunities to participate.
More information on the PUC ratemaking process is available at the Commission’s website.
Documents related to this case can be found at PUC Docket: R-2025-3053499.
Click Here for the PUC announcement.
A Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - April 12 to 25: Another Abandoned Shale Gas Water Impoundment; 18 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Exposed Gas Pipeline Crosses Stream [PaEN]
-- DEP: Abandoned Shale Gas Water Impoundment Not Used For 7 Years Cited For Not Being Restored In Clarion County [PaEN]
-- Conventional Oil & Gas Facility Owners Must Now File A Methane Emissions Compliance Report By June 1, 2025 Required By A 2022 DEP Methane Pollution Reduction Rule As A Result Of Court Settlement [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold May 1 Virtual Update On State Response To Energy Transfer/Sunoco Twin Oaks Pipeline Leak In Bucks County [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - April 19 [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - April 26 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 96 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In April 19 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 77 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In April 26 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- PublicSourceNews.org: Setback On Setbacks: PA Environmental Quality Board Tables Consideration Of New Limits On Drilling Near Building, Water Sources
-- Farm & Dairy: PA Environmental Board Delays Vote On Petition To Increase Shale Gas Well Setbacks
-- Post-Gazette Letter: I Applaud Bucks County Commissioners Who Had The Guts To Challenge The Natural Gas Industry For Contributing To Climate Crisis - Cat Lodge, Washington County Resident
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission: Low Stream Flows Trigger Restrictions On 29 Shale Gas Water Withdrawals [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 58 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In March; 142 In 2025 [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project Launches AirView Public, New App To Help Communities Protect Residents From Oil & Gas Pollution; Communities Can Join Today [PaEN]
-- PUC Hearing On Data Center Growth Impacts Finds 30-40% Of Utility Demand Could Be From Data Centers; Concerns About Stranded Costs; Major Commitments To Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Energy Use [PaEN]
-- Reuters: FERC Denies Rehearing On Colocated Amazon Data Center Energy Pact In Luzrne County
-- House, Senate Members Introduce Gov. Shapiro's 'Lightning' Energy Plan To Lower Energy Costs, Create Jobs, Protect Pennsylvania From Global Energy Instability [PaEN]
-- Gov. Shapiro: FERC Approves Settlement With PJM To Prevent Unnecessary Prices Hikes, Save Consumers Over $21 Billion On Electric Bills [PaEN]
-- Utility Dive: Ratepayer Advocates: FERC Should Order PJM To Rerun Last Electricity Capacity Auction; Could Lead To $5 Billion In Consumer Savings
-- New Report: Fixing PJM’s Broken Electric Generation Approval Process Can Lower Energy Costs, Create Jobs Across The Mid-Atlantic [PaEN]
-- North American Electric Reliability Corp. Files Proposed Cold Weather Standard To Improve Reliability For Natural Gas-fired, Other Electric Generators [PaEN]
-- DEP Releases 2024 Climate Change Action Plan Update; 2024 Climate Impacts Assessment Report [PaEN]
-- Eleven Coal, Coal-Waste Power Plants In Pennsylvania Now Covered By Presidential Exemption From 2024 Mercury, Hazardous Air Pollutant Regulation For 2 Years [PaEN]
-- AP-Marc Levy: Big Tech’s Soaring Energy Demands Are Making Coal-Fired Power Plant Sites Attractive [Not Necessarily The Plants Themselves]
-- PUC Commissioners Urge Congressional Action To Preserve $19 Million In Remaining LIHEAP Funds For PA This Year [PaEN]
-- Energy Association Of PA [Utilities] Calls For Protection Of LIHEAP Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
-- PUC Announces May 6, 7 Hearings On Proposed 15.7% Rate Increase For Philadelphia Gas Works [PaEN]
-- PUC To Investigate Proposed 11.4% Increase In Columbia Gas Natural Gas Rate [PaEN]
-- Warren Times: Instead Of ‘Drill, Baby, Drill,’ US Rig Counts Falling, Layoffs Increasing
-- Financial Times: President’s Tariff Talk Roils US Oil, Gas Industry In Bedrock Republican Territory
-- The Economist: America Won’t Be Able To Bully The World Into Buying More US Natural Gas
-- E&ENews/Politico: President’s Push For More LNG Gas Exports Risks Domestic Price Surge
-- Financial Times: Growth In Oil Demand Expected To Slow Sharply As A Result Of President’s Tariffs
-- Financial Times: China Stopped Buying US LNG Gas Feb. 6 Due To Trade War
-- Marcellus Drilling News: EIA Annual Energy Outlook: Oil And Natural Gas Demand Peaks In 2027 and 2032 [PDF of Article]
[Posted: April 24, 2025] PA Environment Digest
No comments :
Post a Comment