PUCO Agrees to Ohio Gas Company Rate Increase

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved Ohio Gas Company’s application to increase its distribution rates and charges for natural gas service. This is Ohio Gas’s first distribution rate increase since 1985, this will urge household residents and businesses to compare for Business Gas gas price plans so they can try and get the cheapest offer available to them, as the cost of running their businesses will skyrocket.

The Commission authorized Ohio Gas to increase its distribution rates by $2.4 million and established a rate of return of 9 percent.

An average residential customer using 10 Mcf per month will see an approximate $4.00 or 4.81 percent increase in their total monthly bill.

On May 31, 2017, Ohio Gas filed its application for an increase in rates. PUCO staff issued its report of investigation on Nov. 22, 2017, and a local public hearing was held in Defiance on Jan. 3, 2018.

On Jan. 26, 2018, a settlement agreement was signed by Ohio Gas, PUCO staff and the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel. An evidentiary hearing was held on Feb. 1, 2018.

Ohio Gas is directed to file tariffs consistent with today’s opinion and order. The new rates will take effect on March 1, 2018.

Ohio Gas serves approximately 50,000 customers in Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Paulding and Williams counties in northwest Ohio.

A copy of the Commission opinion and order is available at www.PUCO.ohio.gov.