MORGANTOWN — The Public Service Commission decision on Hope Gas’ rate hike request will come sooner than expected.
The PSC issued an order on Thursday trimming the proposed timeline by nearly a full month.
Morgantown-based Hope Gas submitted a timeline proposal to the PSC early in the week. Public Service Commission staff and the PSC’s Consumer Advocate Division both agreed to the proposed timeline, which included PSC staff, CAD and intervenor testimony on Aug. 30; rebuttal testimony on Sept. 13; and an evidentiary hearing on Sept. 27.
In denying the motion, PSC cited the need to accelerate the process because of the narrow timeframe stipulated in state code — within 150 days of the date of the rate-hike application, which was May 31.
The new dates are: PSC staff, CAD and intervenor testimony on Aug. 1; rebuttal testimony on Aug. 15; and an evidentiary hearing on Sept. 1.
The rate hike is for its Pipeline Replacement and Expansion (PREP) program. State code allows the PSC “to approve 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.”
The total proposed hike of $66,537,753 covers two Hope programs: its General Program for its core distribution system and its Gathering Program for gathering facilities.
The 2022 combined cost for the two programs was $60,076,977 — roughly $57.8 million for General Program and $2.3 million for the Gathering Program.
For 2023, Hope estimates costs of $64,037,753 for the General Program and $2,500,000 for the Gathering Program. For 2024, its Gathering Program project remains the same, while the General Program comes in at $1 less — $64,037,752.
Hope estimates that the proposed rate hike will raise the monthly residential bill by $6.45 per month — 5.84%.
If the PSC approves the rate hike, it will take effect on Nov. 1.
In Thursday’s order, the PSC also approved motions from CAD and the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia to intervene in the case based on their legal interests in the case.
TWEET David Beard @dbeardtdp
EMAIL dbeard@dominionpost.com
