20 December 2022- The National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation filed a request to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on October 28th to increase the price of natural gas distribution to customers around the Commonwealth. The Commission, which meets to address issues, changes, and consumer protection throughout the state, voted on December 8th 5-0 to investigate the request.
According to the PUC’s initial findings, the changes would raise your total monthly bill from around $99.93 to $109.67, or about a 9.7% increase. This 10% increase comes as the Federal Reserve notes that CPI numbers surrounding natural gas have continued to fall after hitting an all time high this summer. Additionally, National Fuel Gas is proposing an increase in its monthly residential customer charge from $12 to $18.
This increase, according to the PUC, would give National Fuel Gas an additional revenue increase of $28.1 million, or a 9.2% gain. While an increase is understandable as the cost of regular inflation hits employers especially hard, this increase is being investigated by the commission for being especially egregious.
In an effort to stop the bleeding by consumers, NFG also is proposing an efficiency pilot program that would recover an additional $1.2 million from residential customers annually by offering a rebate program for high-efficiency space heaters. Full release from the Public Utilities Commission is below, as well as ways to participate in the meeting.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today scheduled mid-January telephonic hearings to gather public input on a proposed rate increase by National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (National Fuel Gas).
National Fuel Gas presently provides natural gas distribution services to approximately 214,000 people in northwest Pennsylvania.
PUC Public Input Hearing
The PUC telephonic hearings to gather public input on the rate increase request by National Fuel Gas are scheduled for the following:
- Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023 – Telephonic hearings will begin at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
PUC Administrative Law Judge Mary D. Long will preside over the hearings.
Signing Up for the Public Input Hearings
To testify at a telephonic public input hearing, you must register no later than 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. Interested persons can register by email or telephone by contacting Judge Long’s office.
To pre-register by email, please email Judge Long’s legal assistant, Daniela Alban at dalban@pa.gov, and provide:
(1) your first and last name;
(2) the date and time (1 pm or 6 pm) of the hearing at which you wish to testify;
(3) the phone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing; and
(4) if you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.
To pre-register by phone, please call Judge Long’s office at 412-565-3550 and leave a message providing:
(1) your first and last name;
(2) the date and time (1 p.m. or 6 p.m.) of the hearing at which you wish to testify;
(3) the phone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing;
(4) a phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing (if needed);
(5) your email address (if you have one); and
(6) if you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.
To participate in the public input hearings, you may use the following call-in information:
Toll-free Bridge Number: 866-566-0649
PIN Number: 83345259
(NOTE: Please speak your name when prompted, and press #)
If you do not pre-register and provide the information listed above, you may not be able to testify. Individuals will testify in the order in which they pre-register.
NOTE: If you do not wish to testify but want to listen to the public input hearing(s), please contact Judge Long’s office by email or phone (same contact information as listed above) and provide your name and the hearing(s) you want to listen to so the PUC can ensure it has adequate caller capacity on the conference bridge to accommodate all callers. Again, the deadline for signing up for the public input hearings is Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, at 4 p.m.
