PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
OF WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON
Case No. 15-0003-G-42T
MOUNTAINEER GAS COMPANY
In the matter of increased rates and charges.
And
CASE No. 15-0048-G-D
MOUNTAINEER GAS COMPANY
Application to change depreciation rates.
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF REQUESTED RATES AND DEADLINE FOR
INTERVENTION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
On January 5, 2015, Mountaineer Gas Company (Mountaineer) made a Rule 42 tariff filing to increase gas rates and charges seeking an additional $12.2 million in annual revenue, or an approximate 4.7 percent increase on a total-Company basis over current rates (based on a future test year) for furnishing natural gas service to approximately 221,000 customers in Barbour, Berkeley, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mineral, Mingo, Monongalia, Monroe, Nicholas, Ohio, Pendleton, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood, and Wyoming Counties in West Virginia.
On January 20, 2015, Mountaineer requested revised depreciation rates under Rule 20 of the Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure, 150 C.S.R. 1. Mountaineer stated that the revised depreciation rates require approximately an $800,000 decrease in annual depreciation expense that is incorporated as adjustments in the overall $12.2 million increase in base rates requested by Mountaineer in the rate filing in Case No. 15-0003-G-42T. Mountaineer recommended that the Commission suspend the proposed revision of its depreciation rates until the conclusion of the associated base rate proceeding.
By Order issued January 30, 2015, the Commission suspended the proposed increased rates and charges and the revised depreciation rates until 12:01 a.m., November 2, 2015, and established a procedural schedule for these cases. By previous Order, the Commission required Mountaineer to provide notice to its customers of the requested increase in rates and charges in Case No. 15-0003-G-42T.
Anyone desiring to intervene and act as a party in either of these cases should file on or before April 21, 2015, a Petition to Intervene, complying with the Commission rules on intervention found within the Rules of Practice and Procedure, 150 C.S.R. 1. Anyone desiring to protest should file a written protest as soon as possible although protests will be accepted by the Commission through the pendency of this proceeding. All written protests should briefly state the reason for the protest. All protests and Petitions to Intervene should clearly state the case name and number and be addressed to Ingrid Ferrell, Executive Secretary, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323.