PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
OF WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON
CASE NO. 24-0658-G-390P
MOUNTAINEER GAS COMPANY
Infrastructure Replacement and Expansion Program
Filing for 2025
NOTICE OF FILING AND HEARING
On July 31, 2024, Mountaineer Gas Company (Mountaineer) filed its annual Application for approval of an Infrastructure Replacement and Expansion Program for 2025 (2025 IREP) with revised IREP rates for 2025, pursuant to W.Va. Code § 24-2-1k, which authorizes the Public Service Commission (Commission) of West Virginia to approve cost recovery of projects to replace, upgrade and expand natural gas utility infrastructure that are deemed to be just and reasonable and in the public interest.
In its Application, Mountaineer forecasts capital investment for calendar year 2025 of $74 million as part of its multi-year plan. The 2025 IREP covers several categories of plant asset replacements and improvements, including mains, service lines, measurement and regulator stations, and house regulators. These plant investments are proposed to be made in Mountaineer service territories throughout the State. These investments are identified in the Application, which is on file and available for public inspection at the Commission’s offices at 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia and which may be viewed on the Commission’s website, www.psc.state.wv.us.
Mountaineer proposes to increase IREP revenues by $8.9 million, an overall revenue increase of approximately 2.80%. The IREP investments included in this filing reflect plant additions made or projected to be made from 2023 to 2025. The increased rates are requested to be effective January 1, 2025. The IREP rates apply as either fixed or volumetric rate increments, depending on the applicable rate schedule under which service is rendered. Mountaineer projects that if the program and IREP rate increase are approved as requested, the average monthly bill for its various classes of customers will be changed on January 1, 2025, as shown below:
Mountaineer Gas Company – Proposed
Type of Customer $ Increase % Increase
Residential $2.63 2.97%
Commercial $6.92 2.03%
Large Commercial (*) $384.24 0.71% Large Commercial – I (*) $477.11 0.21%
Industrial (*) $509.10 1.04% Wholesale $75.77 0.88% (*) Percentage increases for Large Commercial and Industrial customers assume transport customers purchase their natural gas at the same price as the Company’s Purchased Gas Adjustment rate.
The increases shown above are compared to the rates currently in place and are based on averages of all customers in the indicated class. Each class may receive an increase greater or less than stated here. Individual customers may receive an increase that is greater or less than average. Furthermore, the requested rates and charges are only a proposal and are subject to change (increase or decrease) by the Commission in its review of the filing. Any change in rates and charges will not become effective until authorized and approved by the Commission.
The Commission set a procedural schedule, including a hearing date on the Application that will begin at 9:30 a.m. on November 4, 2024, in the Howard M. Cunningham Hearing Room at the Commission’s offices at 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia. If no opposition to the Application is received by the Commission within one week of the hearing date, the hearing may be waived, and the Commission may issue a final order within 150 days of the Application filing date.
Anyone desiring to intervene should file a written petition to intervene within 15 days following the date of this publication unless otherwise modified by Commission order. All requests to intervene should briefly state the reason for the request to intervene and comply with the rules on intervention set forth in the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. The Commission will receive public comments until the beginning of the hearing. All written comments and requests to intervene should state the case name and number and be addressed to the Commission Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323. Public comments may also be filed online at http://www.psc.state.wv. us.scriptslonlinecomments/default.com by clicking the “Formal Case” link.
MOUNTAINEER GAS COMPANY
BCR 09/27/24