After holding a public hearing last summer, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has approved a lower than requested rate increase for Columbia Gas.
Columbia requested the over $100 million per year rate hike nearly one year ago. Instead the PUC has allowed the gas utility to increase revenue by $63.5 million.
The monthly residential customer charge will remain unchanged at $16.75 rather than increasing to $23 as Columbia had proposed. The PUC also directed Columbia to take steps to improve energy affordability and assist income-qualified households.
Columbia Gas provides service to roughly 433,000 residents and businesses in western and southern Pennsylvania, including many in Butler County.