Columbia Gas may raise rates

Columbia Gas has notified the city of Findlay about a possible rate hike for its customers. In a letter to Findlay City Council dated Nov. 21, Vincent Parisi, president of Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc., said the company is seeking to recoup the expense of replacing aged distribution pipes in the city. He said Columbia Gas will ask the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to approve the reimbursement of $28.7 million in expenses, a cost that will be passed on to its customers. The application is expected to be submitted in February, with the additional collections to begin in May. It will be up to the PUCO to approve the request. Parisi said if approved, the Infrastructure Replacement Program Rider will raise its customers' monthly gas bill by about $1.38 each month, along with surcharges. "Under its Infrastructure Replacement Program, Columbia is replacing aged cast iron, wrought iron, unprotected coated steel and bare steel distribution pipe, as well as hazardous customer service lines," he said. Modern pipes reduce leaks, which makes the system safer and reduces the need to "dig up streets, sidewalks and lawns less often," he said. The improvements also allow the company to operate its distribution system at higher pressures, keeping water from infiltrating the lines and disrupting service. The improvements also lower operating and maintenance costs for the company. Parisi said those savings then get passed on to customers. It also relieves customers of costly repair bills, if their service line develops a hazardous leak, he said. "Prior to 2008, these service lines were customer-owned equipment," he said. Parisi said the investment in updated infrastructure also creates local construction jobs and increases local tax revenue. He said the application requires no action by Findlay Council, but is available for public review at the PUCO's website: www.puco.ohio.gov, and can be found on the "Docketing Information System," under filings for case number 23-1036-GA-RDR.