FRANKFORT, Ky. (October 27, 2021) – Attorney General Cameron today announced his Office of Rate Intervention reached a proposed settlement agreement with Columbia Gas of Kentucky, Inc. (Columbia). The agreement saves Kentuckians over $8 million in proposed natural gas rate increases and provides that Columbia will not seek an additional base rate increase from its customers for at least three years.
“Many Kentuckians rely on natural gas to heat their homes and businesses, and our Office of Rate Intervention exists to represent their interests in matters related to utility rates,” said Attorney General Cameron. “As a watchdog for Kentucky ratepayers, we pursued a settlement with Columbia Gas and reached a settlement that saves Kentuckians more than $8 million in proposed natural gas rate increases.”
In May, Columbia filed an application with the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) to increase natural gas rates for more than 135,000 Columbia customers in 30 counties including Bath, Bourbon, Boyd, Bracken, Carter, Clark, Clay, Estill, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Greenup, Harrison, Jessamine, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Lee, Letcher, Lewis, Madison, Martin, Mason, Montgomery, Nicholas, Owsley, Pike, Robertson, Scott, and Woodford Counties.
Although, the average residential customer will see a rate increase of 12.4 percent if the PSC approves the settlement, the approved increases are 30 percent less than what Columbia had initially requested and the office will have saved Kentuckians $8.095 million in proposed natural gas rate increases. In the agreement, Columbia also agrees not to seek additional base rate increases for three years.
The settlement was filed today with the PSC.
To view a copy of the settlement, click here.