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PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
OF WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON

CASE NO. 23-0843-G-PC
HOPE GAS, INC., STANDARD GAS COMPANY,
and BAZZLE GAS COMPANY, INC.
Joint petition for consent and approval for Hope Gas, Inc. to acquire Standard
Gas Company and Bazzle Gas Company, Inc.

NOTICE OF FILING

On October 27, 2023, Hope Gas, Inc. (Hope), Standard Gas Company (Standard), and Bazzle Gas Company (Bazzle) (jointly, petitioners) filed with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (Commission) a joint petition (Joint Petition) for Commission consent and approval of an acquisition transaction pursuant to which Hope would acquire certain assets of Standard and Bazzle used to provide gas utility service. Standard and Bazzle currently provide natural gas sales service to approximately 460 customers in Lewis and Braxton Counties, West Virginia.

In the Joint Petition, Hope, Standard, and Bazzle assert that the acquisition transaction will have no adverse effect on their customers, other public utilities, or the public in general. Following the transaction, the assets acquired will be owned and operated by Hope, subject to the Commission’s continuing jurisdiction and regulation. From and after the closing of the acquisition, the Customers will become customers of Hope.

Upon the closing of the Transaction, the Standard customers will continue to pay Standard’s existing base rates, purchased gas adjustment (PGA) rate, and a Legacy Surcharge rate increment, which surcharge equates to Hope’s pipeline replacement and expansion (PREP) rate increment, as they change from time to time. Consequently, at close, based on the current base, PGA and surcharge rates proposed, the average monthly bill impact for the Standard customers as a result of the Transaction will be as follows:

($) (%)
Type of Customer Increase/( Decrease) Increase/(Decrease)
Residential $13.35 21.37%
Commercial $25.87 17.23%

The Bazzle customers will pay Hope’s existing rates, PGA rate and the Legacy Surcharge, as they change from time to time. Consequently, at close, based on the current base, PGA and surcharge rates proposed, the average monthly bill impact for the Bazzle customers as a result of the Transaction will be as follows:

($) (%)
Type of Customer Increase/( Decrease) Increase/(Decrease)
Residential $60.60 170.56%

Hope proposes that the Standard customers will eventually pay the Hope base rates plus PGA rates and Legacy Surcharge as those rates change from time to time. If the Standard customers were immediately charged the Hope base rates, the current Hope PGA rate, and the current Legacy Surcharge rate, the average monthly bill impact for the Standard customers as a result of the transaction would be as follows:

($) (%)
Type of Customer Increase/( Decrease) Increase/(Decrease)
Residential $28.79 46.08%
Commercial $64.85 43.19%

The Commission schedules this matter for evidentiary hearing to be held on February 21, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. and continuing to February 22, 2024, if necessary, in the Howard M. Cunningham Hearing Room, Public Service Commission Building, 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia. Interested persons should be able to view the evidentiary hearing via an internet livestream. In lieu of an in-person public comment hearing, the Commission will receive public comments online and by mail or hand delivery to the Executive Secretary’s Office. All written comments should state the case name and number and be addressed to Karen Buckley, Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323. The Commission website, www.psc.state.wv.us, contains links to “Case Information,” “Submit a Comment,” and “Commission Webcast.”

The Joint Petition is on file with and available for public inspection at the Commission, 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia, and is available online at the Commission website (www.psc.state.wv.us). Anyone desiring to intervene or protest should file a written request to intervene or protest no later than thirty (30) days following the date of this notice, unless such period is otherwise modified by Commission Order. Failure to timely intervene or protest can affect your right to participate in or protest aspects of this proceeding. All requests to intervene or protest should briefly state the reason for the request to intervene or protest and comply with the rules set forth in the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. All requests to intervene and protests should state the case name and number and be addressed to the Executive Secretary at the address listed above.

In the absence of substantial protest received within thirty (30) days of the issuance of this notice, the Commission may waive formal hearing and grant the Joint Petition based on the Commission’s review of the evidence submitted with the Joint Petition.

HOPE GAS, INC.
STANDARD GAS COMPANY, and
BAZZLE GAS COMPANY, INC.

ID: 765574

Mercer

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VIRGINIA GAS AND OIL BOARD HEARINGS JANUARY 16, 2024

Pursuant to Sections 45.2-1609.C and 45.2-1624.B of the Code of Virginia, the Virginia Gas and Oil Board will hold its scheduled monthly hearing commencing at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. Location: Virginia Energy 3405 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219. Those who wish to join the meeting online, please contact the Gas and Oil office at 276-393-5507, prior to the day of the hearing. If you wish to call-in to the meeting, you may do so by dialing 1-434-230-0065, Conference ID: 753948247#.
1. The Board will review/approve the remote attendance resolution for any board member(s) that will be attending the meeting remotely.
2. The Board will receive public comments.
3. The First Bank and Trust Company, Escrow Agent for the Virginia Gas and Oil Board, will appear to address the Board on the Quarterly/End of Year Report.
4. A petition from Keyrock Energy, LLC, for creation of a sealed gob drilling unit and pooling. Unit Honey Camp No. 1. Docket Number VGOB 23-1219-4279.
5. A petition from Pocahontas Gas, LLC, for (1) the disbursement of escrowed funds heretofore deposited with the Board’s Escrow Agent, attributable to Tract 1E, as depicted upon the annexed table; and (2) authorization to begin paying royalties directly to the parties to the Royalty Split Agreement between Daisy Burke (now owned by Joel and Brenda Burke, prior owner payments to the Daisy Burke Heirs) and Hurt-McGuire Land Trust (now McGuire-Hurt Heirs Trust). Unit W35. Docket Number VGOB 98-0324-0627-13.
6. A petition from Pocahontas Gas, LLC, for (1) the disbursement of escrowed funds heretofore deposited with the Board’s Escrow Agent, attributable to a portion of Tracts 2A, 2B, 2C, & 2D, 2F, 2G, 2H, 2I, 2J, 2K, 2L, a portion of 2M, a portion of 2N, 2O, & 2S, and 2T, as depicted upon the annexed table; and (2) authorization to begin paying royalties directly to Shirley Lee Pennington, Janice Sue Wingate, Richard Wade McNeil, James Garland McNeil, Jr., Bertha Reanette Fuller, Clair Terry, Brenda Hamilton, Paula Nickles, Terry Guiler, David Bruce, Leashia Bruce, Cindy Bruce, Raymond Bruce, Thomas Bruce, Jacqueline Notgrass, James Day McNeil, Larry David McNeil, Frederick McNeil, Paula Adkins, Susan E. Holland, Linda Anderson, Marianne Davenport, Robert V. Davenport, Ronald Eugene Fuller, Gary Fuller, Vernona Wheeler, Patricia Fuller, Janice Fuller, Charles E. Ditty, Sr., Jackson L. Matney, Freda June Jones, Geraldine Ingle, Elizabeth Callahan, Josephine Lantz, Ciara E. McNeil, Emily A. McNeil, Linda McNeil, Leah Karuri, Richard W. McNeil, II, Arthur Compton, Helen Hart, Marie McCright, Randy Compton, Lucinda C. Leighton, Mark Compton, Sue Farmer Ward, Gregory Wheatley, Sandra Smith, Susan J. Sherman, Richard Norman Wheatley, William Wheatley, Jr., Carolyn Swiney, Sheila Lewis, Allene Hazlet, Bertha Faye Reed, Anna L. Ellenburg, James Moses Qualls, Gregory Miles, Phillip Miles, Patricia Kinkead, Joyce Sizemore, Debra Bryan, Alice J. Hammonds, Sandra Kay Hutchinson, Sharon Hutchinson, Debra Gates, Kim Roesemann, Nancy Prince, Anita Poe, Brooks Collins, Gloria J. Kersey, Ina R. Scott, Angela Grose, Tina Collins, Brenda Collins, Linda Triplett, Michael D. Miles, Mark Miles, Martin B. Miles, Robert Craig McNeil, Andy Paul McNeil, Rebecca Lynn Adkins, Robin Michelle Knipp, Randall E. McNeil, Kimberly McNeil Kish, Cheryle Jean Harmon, John Nelson Williams, Sharon Miller, James David Williams, George E. Miller, Linda R. Hall, Rhonda Duchesne, Charles H. Wellman, Jr., Belma Kelley, Mary E. Staten, William J. Williams, Clarence Patrick McNeil, Saundra Patton, Shelby Maxwell, McGuire-Hurt Heirs Trust, Pocahontas Gas LLC, Commonwealth of VA Dept of Transportation, Michael Shannon, Robert D. & Adrienne Maxwell, and Patricia Lynn Campbell; (3) Dismissal of Coal Owner(s): McGuireHurt Heirs Trust (FKA Hurt-McGuire Land Trust). Unit R49. Docket Number VGOB 090317-2487-03.
7. The Board will receive an update of Board and Division activities from the staff.
8. The Board will review the November 2023 minutes for approval.

Information concerning the above docket items can be viewed electronically at:
https://www.energy.virginia.gov/DgoInquiry/frmmain.aspx?ctl=68. All questions concerning the agenda should be directed to the Gas and Oil Team by telephoning 276-415-9700.

Anyone needing special accommodations due to a disability for the January 2024 hearing should contact the Virginia Department of Energy in advance of the hearing at 276-415-9700 or by calling the Virginia Relay Center TTY/TDD at 1-800-828-1120 or 1140 by January 09, 2024.

The deadline for filing of petitions to the Board for the February 2024 hearing is 5 p.m., Friday, January, 19 with the February hearing scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at the Virginia Energy Big Stone Gap office, 3405 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219.

ID: 765497