PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
OF WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON
CASE NO. 23-0773-G-CN-PW
HOPE GAS, INC.
Application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct new and uprated facilities
NOTICE OF FILING AND HEARINGS
CONSTRUCTION OF PIPELINE FACILITIES IN
MONONGALIA AND MARION COUNTIES,
WEST VIRGINIA
On September 22, 2023, Hope Gas, Inc. (Hope) filed
with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia
(Commission) an application for a certificate of public
convenience and necessity (Application) for Hope’s
construction of new and uprated pipeline facilities
substantially adjacent to existing pipeline infrastructure
(located in Monongalia and northern Marion counties,
West Virginia) (Project) to enhance the reliability of
service by increasing the delivery of additional gas
supply to the Morgantown, West Virginia area served by
Hope, including to enhance reliability of service to
critical public services such as important medical
facilities in that area. Hope expects to commence
construction on the Project on November 1, 2024, and
to place the Project facilities into service on November
1, 2025. The Application is not proposing any immediate
changes to Hope’s rates.
The proposed Project facilities, which are subject to
change: begin near Wadestown, Monongalia County,
West Virginia (Wadestown), west of WV-7; traverse
easterly crossing WV-7 and continuing to a point on the
Monongalia-Marion county border after crossing near
WV 218; traverse easterly through northern Marion
County to a point on the Marion-Monongalia county
border after crossing and near CR 25; traverse easterly
crossing CR 37 and continuing easterly crossing US 19
from the north at a location just north of Hope’s
proposed Black Knight measurement and regulation
station (Black Knight), which is approximately 1.7 miles
west of 1-79 at Grapevine Hill; traverse north from Black
Knight crossing CR 1924, and then traverse northeast
crossing 1-79 and WV 7; and terminate at a location
northwest of Star City/Osage, West Virginia. In total, the
Project facilities, which include pipeline, measurement
and regulation stations, and other appurtenant facilities,
traverse approximately 30 miles on existing and new
right of way. A map of the Project facilities as well as a
listing of all required permits and approvals are
contained in the Application. A map of Project facilities
can also be found at:
https://hopegas.com/docs/PSC_Overview_map_
Morgantown_Connecttor.pdf. The Application 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).
The current estimated total Project cost is approximately
$177 million. The potential rate impact for the Project is
unknown at this time and Hope will seek to recover the
actual cost in future rate proceedings.
The Commission will conduct a public comment hearing
on the Application at 5:30 p.m. on December 14, 2023,
at the Public Service Commission headquarters, 201
Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia. Those wishing
to speak at the public comment hearing may sign up in
person at the Commission headquarters before the
hearing or pre-register to speak virtually by 4:00 p.m.
December 14, 2023, by providing their name and phone
number to Andy Gallagher at
[email protected] or 304-340-0820. For those
who pre-register to attend virtually, the Commission will
call each person in order of registration during the public
comment hearing.
As an alternative to speaking at the public comment
hearing either virtually or in-person, individuals or
entities interested in providing written comments
regarding this case should submit their comments by
mail or hand delivery to Executive Secretary, P.O. Box
812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323, or on-line at by
clicking on “Submit A Comment” in the left column and
following the directions provided. All written comments
should be marked with Case No. 23-0773-G-CN-PW.
Interested persons may also attend the public comment
hearing in-person or via webcast to observe the public
comment hearing. The webcast may be viewed by
clicking “Commission Webcast” located under the
“Inside the PSC” section in the left column on the
Commission’s website: www.psc.state.wv.us.
The Commission has scheduled an evidentiary hearing
for Tuesday, December 19, 2023, beginning at 9:30
a.m., at the Public Service Commission headquarters,
201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia. The
Commission may cancel the evidentiary hearing for
good cause shown and interested persons intending to
attend the hearing should monitor the Commission web
docket.
Anyone desiring to intervene should file a written
request to intervene and pre-filed direct testimony no
later than December 4, 2023, unless such date is
otherwise modified by Commission Order. Failure to
timely intervene can affect your right to participate in
aspects of this proceeding. All requests to intervene
should briefly state the reason for the request to
intervene and comply with the rules set forth in the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. All
requests to intervene should contain the case name and
number and be addressed to Executive Secretary,
Public Service Commission of West Virginia, P.O. Box
812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323. In the absence of
substantial protest, the Commission may waive formal
hearing and grant the Application based on the
Commission’s review of the evidence submitted with the
Application.
HOPE GAS, INC
Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC
TSN 12/6 4987