Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Inc., a subsidiary of NiSource Inc., has made a request with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PA PUC) to approve revised rates for further upgrading and replacing portions of the company’s underground natural gas distribution pipelines to benefit its customers. If approved, these proposed rate adjustments would not go into effect until mid-to-late December 2022.
“Ensuring the continued, long-term safety of our customers and communities we serve is an essential part of our business, and it requires the necessary level of investments to modernize an aging energy infrastructure for our customers’ future energy needs,” said Mark Kempic, Columbia Gas President and Chief Operating Officer. “We also understand that energy efficiency is important to our customers, and this proposal also seeks to provide them with additional energy efficiency options while balancing costs and services to continue delivering on our customer commitments.”
With nearly 2,300 full-time employees and contracted resources, Columbia Gas has proudly invested more than $2.8 billion in Pennsylvania since 2007 as part of its long-term plan to modernize and expand its natural gas distribution system.
In addition to the positive economic and customer benefits associated with these previous and proposed future investments across the 26-county area served by Columbia Gas, this plan supports a positive customer experience through ensuring an educated and trained workforce that is focused on safely meeting or exceeding all federal and state industry requirements.
In its request, Columbia Gas also is requesting approval of additional residential energy efficiency programs which are designed to help Columbia Gas’s residential customers reduce their energy consumption, improve efficiency, and conserve resources.
Helping Customers in Need
At all times, Columbia Gas is committed to providing its customers with the tools, resources, and programs to stay safe and warm in their homes.
“Even with these necessary investments, any change in customer bills is meaningful,” added Kempic. “Assistance is available, and we’re here to help and to work with customers to identify solutions to keep them connected.”