Press Release: OPC Alerts Consumers of Significant Gas Rate Hike Request

News Release — DC Office of the People’s Counsel

OPC Will Work to Ensure Affordability is Preserved, DC Consumers Are Protected

January 14, 2020

The Office of the People’s Counsel wants DC consumers to know that Washington Gas Light (WGL) has filed an application with the Public Service Commission (PSC), requesting authority to increase rates and charges for natural gas service in the District of Columbia by $26 million. That means, the average residential bill could go up by almost $13 per month–about 30%. This increase, requested yesterday, would be on top of $9 million WGL is already collecting from consumers through a surcharge that’s funding the Project Pipes infrastructure improvement program.

“This rate case, which is substantial, will not be analyzed in a vacuum,” said People’s Counsel Sandra Mattavous-Frye. “There are other public policy priorities that must be examined and established. Specifically, OPC will make sure that the provisions proposed in this request are appropriate and consistent with recently-enacted clean energy laws and that WGL is in full compliance with the merger commitments approved in the AltaGas-WGL merger in 2018.”

OPC will place affordability front and center as a priority in this case. “While aging infrastructure needs to be replaced and the cost to do so recovered, natural gas service must be affordable as this resource is the primary heating source for a large number of District of Columbia residents,” added People’s Counsel Mattavous-Frye.

In 2017, the Commission approved an $8.5 million WGL rate increase. In addition, the PSC directed the gas company to upgrade its infrastructure to improve reliability and safety–and WGL launched a large number of construction projects, including reducing natural gas leaks. OPC will closely examine each of these projects to ensure consumers are benefiting or will in the future.

OPC will keep consumers up to date on any developments in this new case, including when the community will be able to provide comments and when the PSC might render a decision on the request.

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Media Contact:

Doxie McCoy
Public Information Officer