Press Release

Reminder: PUC Schedules Early-June Hearings on Columbia Gas Rate Increase Proposal

Published on 5/27/2025

Filed under: Gas

Six Opportunities for Residents to Share Input on Columbia Gas’s $110.5 Million Rate Increase Proposal – In Person or by Phone

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today issued a reminder to customers of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania (Columbia) – and other interested parties – about a series of public input hearings scheduled for early June to gather feedback on the utility’s proposed rate increase. Both in-person and telephone options are available.

Columbia’s proposal would increase annual revenues by $110.5 million – raising monthly residential gas bills by more than 11% for a typical customer. These hearings offer an opportunity for residents and businesses to share their views directly with the PUC before a final decision is made later this year.

In-Person Public Input Hearings

A total of four (4) in-person public input hearings will be held in this proceeding – two in-person hearings in Washington County followed by two in-person hearings in York County.  Those hearings will be held at the following locations:

• Tuesday, June 3, 2025 – Washington County (two hearings)
  Washington County Crossroads Center
  Meeting Room G-16
  95 West Beau Street
  Washington, PA 15301
  The hearings will begin at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
  

• Wednesday, June 11, 2025 – York County (two hearings)
  The York County Office Building
  2401 Pleasant Valley Road
  York, PA  17402
  The hearings will begin at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
  
  

Telephonic Public Input Hearings

• Wednesday, June 4, 2025
  Two telephonic public input hearings will be held at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

PUC Administrative Law Judges Jeffrey A. Watson and Chad L. Allensworth will preside over the hearings.

Participating in a Telephonic Public Input Hearing

To testify at a telephonic public input hearing, you should pre-register by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.  If you do not pre-register, you may not be able to testify.  Individuals will testify in the order in which they pre-register. You may pre-register by email or by phone.

To pre-register, please contact Judge Watson’s office by phone at 412-565-3550 or email Judge Watson’s legal assistant, Mary Swarner, at mswarner@pa.gov and provide:

• Your first and last name;
• The date and time of the public input hearing at which you wish to testify;
• The phone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing;
• A phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing if we need to   contact you; and
• If you require an interpreter to participate, the language of the interpreter.

Consumers wishing to participate in a telephonic public input hearing may call in using the information, as listed below:

• You must dial the toll-free number: 866-675-4281.
• You must enter a PIN number when instructed to do so: 85057514.
• You must speak your name when prompted and press #.
• The telephone system will connect you to the hearing.

If you do not wish to testify but want to listen to the public input hearing(s), please contact Judge Watson’s office by email at mswarner@pa.gov or phone at 412-565-3550 and provide your name and the hearing(s) you want to listen to so we can ensure we have adequate caller capacity on the conference bridge to accommodate all callers.

Note: Individuals representing themselves are not required to be represented by an attorney.  All others, including corporations, partnerships, associations, trusts, governmental agencies or subdivision, must be represented by an attorney.  An attorney representing you should file a Notice of Appearance before the scheduled hearing date.

Hearing Exhibits

If you have any hearing exhibits to which you will refer during the hearing, please email your exhibits to the administrative law judges at jeffwatson@pa.gov and callenswor@pa.gov, as well as their legal assistant, Mary Swarner, at mswarner@pa.gov. 

The proposed exhibits will be forwarded by the Office of Administrative Law Judge electronically to the counsel for the active parties. The exhibits should not include any personal or confidential information as they will be provided to all pf the active parties in this case.  Exhibits must be received by 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

Requests for Interpreters

 Individuals requiring an interpreter to participate in the hearing should pre-register as soon as possible.  Every reasonable effort will be made to have an interpreter present.  If you register too close to the hearing date, there may not be enough time to arrange for an interpreter.

TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Service number for persons who are deaf or hearing-impaired is: 711

Offering Testimony at a Public Input Hearing

The PUC offers tips on how to participate in a public input hearing, including:

• Prepare what you are going to say beforehand. Even though it is not required, you may want to write out your statement, which can be read.
• Any formal testimony that is offered during the hearing will become part of the record on which the PUC will issue its final decision.
• Understand that parties in the case may want to ask you a question to clarify something you said.
  
  

Columbia Proposed Gas Rate Increase

On April 24, 2025, the Commission voted 5-0 to investigate Columbia’s proposal to increase its annual operating revenues for natural gas distribution service by $110.5 million (12%).  Under the proposal, the total monthly bill for a residential customer using 70 therms per month would increase from $138.52 to $154.29 – an increase of 11.4%. 

The proposed changes outlined in Columbia’s filing include a Revenue Normalization Adjustment mechanism to stabilize revenue regardless of fluctuations in customer usage; continuation and expansion of energy efficiency programs for residential and small commercial customers; and the establishment of an Economic Development Distribution Service tariff aimed at supporting large-volume customers.

A final PUC decision is due by December 19, 2025.  Columbia provides natural gas distribution service to approximately 445,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in 26 counties across its Pennsylvania service territory.

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at www.puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Docket No.:  R-2025-3053499

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov
• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov