OF WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON
CASE NO. 26-0448-G-PC
HOPE GAS, INC.,
Petition for consent and approval to remove
Category 1 Red Lines from service
NOTICE OF FILING
On April 24, 2026, Hope Gas, Inc. (Hope), a public utility, filed with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia a petition requesting authority on an expedited basis to remove approximately 34 miles of field/gathering pipelines in Barbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Ritchie, Taylor, Upshur, and Wetzel Counties from service and to discontinue the delivery of gas to free-gas users on those pipelines (Category 1 Red Lines). Hope states that there are approximately 26 known free-gas users on those pipelines. Hope has requested that the Commission issue an order granting its petition by June 30, 2026. Below is information on how you can obtain a copy of the Hope petition.
Hope stated in its application that it does not have a public utility obligation to deliver gas to free-gas users. A free-gas user obtains its rights to free gas pursuant to a contract with a non-utility company.It is your obligation to determine whether you receive free gas and whether you are receiving gas from one of the pipelines proposed to be taken out of service.
Hope is proposing to decommission the Category 1 Red Lines and discontinue the delivery of gas to free-gas users on those pipelines within 30 days after the date the Commission issues an order granting the petition. Hope is asking the Commission to issue an order by June 30, 2026. If the Commission does so, Hope will cease delivering gas to free-gas users on those pipelines by July 30, 2026. This means that affected free-gas users will need to have an alternate energy arrangement in place at their cost and expense before that date. Hope can be contacted at 1-877-587-8570 for inquiries about its petition and to help you determine if you are a free-gas user impacted by this petition.
Hope states that there are no known producer pipelines or wells or other known Hope public utility customers connected to the pipelines it proposes to take out of service. Hope maintains that the subject pipelines are no longer necessary or useful to Hope's provision of service to Hope public utility customers and are uneconomical to continue to operate, maintain, or replace. Hope also requests authorization to recover its actual costs to take the subject pipelines out of service through its Annual Pipeline Replacement and Expansion Program (PREP) filings and PREP Rates, pursuant to W. Va. Code § 24-2-1k; however, this filing does not propose any changes or increases to Hope's existing rates.
The approximately 34 miles of field/gathering pipelines proposed to be taken out of service in the above- referenced counties are identified in the petition, which is on file and available for public inspection at the Commission's offices at 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia, and on the Commission's website, www.psc.state.wv.us.
Anyone desiring to participate in this proceeding may file a written request to intervene and/or comment that briefly states the reason for the request to intervene. Requests to intervene must comply with the rules on intervention set forth in the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure and must be filed within ten (10) days following the date of this publication unless otherwise modified by Commission order. The Commission will receive public comments throughout the entirety of the proceeding. 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://vvww.psc.state.wv.usiscriptsionlinecommentsidefault.cfm by clicking the "Formal Case" link.
HOPE GAS, INC.