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.
Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC
TSN 1/10 1/17 5011