PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
OF WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON
CASE NO. 23-0461-G-390P
HOPE GAS, INC.
Annual Pipeline Replacement and Expansion Program
NOTICE OF FILING AND HEARING
On May 31, 2023, Hope Gas, Inc. (Hope) filed its Annual Pipeline Replacement and Expansion Program (PREP) Filing with revised PREP Rates, pursuant to W. Va. Code section 24-2-1k, which authorizes the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (Commission) to approve cost recovery of projects to replace, upgrade, and expand natural gas utility infrastructure that are deemed to be just and reasonable and in the public interest.
In its PREP Filing, Hope projects PREP capital investment for calendar year 2024 of $66.5 million as part of its General Program (core distribution system) and Gathering Program (gathering facilities) under multi-year plans. The PREP Filing also contains a true-up for actual versus projected 2022 calendar year PREP capital investment activity for both the General Program and the Gathering Program.The PREP covers several categories of plant asset replacements and improvements, including mains, service lines, regulator stations and other plant equipment.These plant investments are proposed to be made in Hope service territories throughout the State. These projects are identified in the PREP Filing, which is on file and available for public inspection at the Commission’s offices at 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia.
Hope proposes to recover costs associated with these investments through an increment within the fixed or volumetric, base rate component of its rates depending on the applicable rate schedule under which service is rendered, to be effective on November 1, 2023.Hope projects that if the program and rate increments are approved as requested, the average monthly bill for the various classes of customers will be changed on November 1, 2023, as follows:
HOPE GAS, INC. – PROPOSED
TYPE OF CUSTOMER $INCREASE %INCREASE
Residential Sales (Rate Class RS) $6.45 5.84%
Small Commercial Sales (Rate Class SGS) $18.45 4.69%
Small Commercial Transport (Rate Class SGS) $164.47 11.91%
Large Commercial Sales (Rate Class LGS) $345.08 1.94%
Large Commercial Transport (Rate Class LGS) $330.28 3.89%
Large Commercial-Industrial – $1,413.77 4.64%
Distribution Sales (Rate Class LCI-D)
Large Commercial-Industrial – $1,353.15 5.88%
Distribution Transport (Rate Class LCI-D)
Large Commercial-Industrial – Direct Service $247.01 11.63%
Transport (Rate Class LCI-DS)
Resale Sales (Rate Class WS) $890.02 2.35%
Gathering (Rate Class PGAS) $745.81 2.00%
The increases shown are based on averages of all customers in the indicated classes.Each class may receive an increase greater or less than stated here.Individual customers may receive increases that are greater or less than average.Furthermore, the requested rates and charges are only a proposal and are subject to change (increase or decrease) by the Commission in its review of this filing.Any increase in rates and charges will not become effective until authorized and approved by the Commission.
The Commission set a procedural schedule, including a hearing on the PREP Filing, if necessary, that will begin at 9:30a.m. on September 1, 2023, in the Howard M. Cunningham Hearing Room at the Commission’s offices at 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia.If the Commission receives no opposition to the PREP Filing within one week of the hearing date, the hearing may be waived, and the Commission may issue a final Order within 150 days of the PREP Filing filing date.
Anyone desiring to intervene should file a written petition to intervene within twenty (20) days following the date of this publication unless otherwise modified by Commission Order.All requests to intervene should briefly state the reason for the request to intervene and comply with the rules on intervention set forth in the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. The Commission will receive public comments until the beginning of the hearing.All written comments and requests to intervene should state the case name and number and be addressed to Karen Buckley, Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323.Public Comments may also be filed online at http://www.psc.state.wv.us/scripts/online comments/default.cfm by clicking the “Formal Case” link.
HOPE GAS, INC.
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