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Dominion Energy recently shared the reasoning behind its proposed rate hike and additional charges.
The Ohio Consumers' Counsel discussed the rate hike with Marietta City Council's Water and Sewer Committee at a meeting Monday night. The company has proposed a 30% rate increase, with an additional $8.78 per month, and other charges in the future, in a case that is pending before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
Committee Chairman Ben Rutherford questioned why the company was proposing the increase.
According to Stephanie Moore, Ohio communications consultant for Dominion, over the last 16 years, Dominion Energy Ohio has invested more than $4 billion in its system infrastructure, of which roughly $1 billion has yet to be recovered in natural gas distribution rates.
"This investment in infrastructure, which includes replacement of pipelines, meters and other operational assets, has increased our property taxes and other expenses as well," said Moore. "In addition, since our last rate case was filed in 2007, operating and maintenance costs - such as labor, material and construction expenses - have risen substantially"
Moore said the current cost to deliver natural gas to customers requires an approximately 16% increase in the average monthly residential total bill. She also states that new gas distribution rates likely won't go into effect until early 2025.
Moore encourages customers to review more information about the rate case at https://www.dominionenergy.com/ohio/updates/rate-case.