The Robert F. Manifold Award is the highest honor of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates, recognizing a lifetime of public service. It was awarded to Bruce Weston for "Dedication and Meritorious Service to the People of Ohio and to NASUCA."
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has scheduled a public hearing where you can comment on Northeast Ohio Gas’ (NEO’s) proposal to increase your gas bill. The Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), the state’s advocate for residential utility consumers, opposes the increase and filed testimony supporting a RATE DECREASE.
NEO is seeking to increase residential consumer bills by more than 10%. Under NEO’s proposal, consumers' monthly customer charge will increase from $21.77 to $35. The customer charge is fixed and must be paid even if consumers use no gas at all. High fixed charges on consumer bills make it more difficult for consumers to reduce their gas bill by conserving energy.
Additionally, over the next four years (2024-2028) NEO proposes to add new, separate charges to consumers’ bills for gas infrastructure and other projects. Those new monthly charges to consumers start out small (potentially an extra $1.83/month in 2024) but balloon to as much as a $17/month added on to consumer bills by 2028. These additional charges, if approved, would be on top of the 10% rate increase NEO requests.
OCC is advocating for a rate decrease, not a rate increase. OCC also opposes NEO’s request for special ratemaking treatment that allows NEO to separately collect monthly charges from consumers for its gas infrastructure and other projects.
Additionally, OCC filed testimony supporting, among other things, improvements to NEO’s customer service and shareholder funding for bill-payment assistance for consumers in need. OCC also advocated for closer scrutiny of the utility’s service disconnections of its utility consumers.
Here is are links to OCC’s testimony:
IN-PERSON: 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at the Wooster Community Center, 241 S. Bever St., Wooster, Ohio 44691
ONLINE: Click on “File a Public Comment” at https://bit.ly/neo-rate-case-2023
BY MAIL: Send a letter referencing Northeast Ohio Gas and PUCO Case 23-154 to:
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
180 E. Broad St., 11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
For tips on how to speak at local public hearings, visit https://bit.ly/occ-make-your-voice-heard.
Here is a link to the PUCO docket with all the filings in the case, including OCC’s objections and expert testimony: https://bit.ly/neo-rate-case-2023
Call or e-mail your advocate, the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, at 1-877-742-5622 or occ@occ.ohio.gov.
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If you need multiple copies for an organization or group, please contact a member of our outreach team.