Gas Bills May Rise Up to 46 Percent

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Gas Bills May Rise Up to 46 Percent

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Posted: 1:18 PM Aug 8, 2008
Last Updated: 1:18 PM Aug 8, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@wsaz.com

33 comments

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Natural gas customers in West Virginia may have to pinch a lot of extra pennies to pay their bills this winter.

Seven natural gas companies are asking the Public Service Commission to approve rate increases of up to 46 percent. State Consumer Advocate Byron Harris says the market price of gas has skyrocketed.

Mountaineer Gas, the state's largest gas utility, wants a 42 percent increase. That would bring its average monthly winter bill to $229.19.

Equitable Gas' 46 percent rate hike request would bring its average bill to $237.19.

Bluefield Gas, Hope Gas, Union Oil and Gas, Southern Public Service Co. and Consumers Energy want hikes ranging from 20 to 43 percent.

Any approved increases would go into effect Nov. 1. Harris wants the PSC to phase them in over the next couple years.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: conservative on Aug 12, 2008 at 08:47 PM
Yes William, gas is from our home state of WV. My aunt has a gas well and she lives in Clendenin. They were doing some test drilling here a few months back to see if they can tap into a reserve. I think that consumers are doing their part to conserve on energy costs such as insulating your home and updating the windows to reduce heating cost. Changing to a more expensive light bulb because they use less energy and last longer and we sweep our drive ways to clean them instead of using the water hose and for what. For more increases. I can understand rate increases to a point but 46%. PSC will approve about half of the requested amount and the gas company will come back in just a few months and request another increase. That's what worked for the water co. I hope they are using the increased revenue to replace the aging mains to decrease the amount of water that is wasted through leakage. The world is in a 100 year mega drought and we can use all of the help possible to conserve our h20.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 12, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Thank good old Byrd. That old fool you all keep electing into office!!!!

Posted by: Joker on Aug 12, 2008 at 08:15 AM
This is pathedic. People will be cutting back on food and medical care this winter to pay utilities whick is going to weaken our immune systems and make us more likely to get sick. CEO's dont know what it like living on soups and such because its cheap and you can stretch it for days. Parents are going to be pinching pennies at Christmas to pay gas bills which is going to hurt the economy in this state. Most of us are on a fixed income with children and this type of thing really hurts us and our children. But the gas companies dont care. I challenge one of them to make a statement on this site and explain to us the reasoning behind this.

Posted by: J could be on Aug 11, 2008 at 10:27 PM
however J the fact is that under the democratic presidency we had an energy policy until good ole oil guy George got in and everything raised including the podium in which you spew your republican bull from

Posted by: J on Aug 11, 2008 at 08:54 PM
While everyone is complaining... If you voted Democrat, you can give yourself a pat on the back for this. The PSC is appointed by elected officials (Dems have run this state for 50 years). Next time you pay your gas bill, remember to thank Ole' Joe and the donkey party.

Posted by: Lisa on Aug 11, 2008 at 12:38 PM
I don't get how people are suppose to live. I'm fortunate however my ex live's up north and his past winter bills were between $500-$600 monthly. I just don't get it?

Posted by: Jamie on Aug 11, 2008 at 02:28 AM
Posted by: Rob on Aug 9, 2008 at 01:11 PM TOO FUNNY!!!

Posted by: Richard on Aug 11, 2008 at 02:03 AM
WVa is setting on one of the richest Natural Gas fields in the United States It looks like Natural Gas would be cheaper here

Posted by: Ticked off on Aug 10, 2008 at 09:48 PM
There is no sense in this! What good is the PSC, rarely do they say "NO" when a utility asks for a raise. All these companies post record profits so what justification do they have to ask for that much of an increase! Glad their kids will be getting a new Corvette for Christmas this year, while we're all standing in line at the soup kitchens!!!!!!

Posted by: West Virginia I have the cure on Aug 10, 2008 at 07:17 PM
it is called good old Coal burning stoves. Let them have thier natural gas - get Joe Manchin out of the capitol protecting the gas companies ruining our landscape and taking our energy without paying for it. Burn coal and let them have their natural gas. Wood burners are also another source. Before the tree huggers start there is enough wasted wood along the roads where the natural gas companies have built windage trays to fuel WV for several years.

Posted by: MONICA on Aug 10, 2008 at 06:15 PM
IVE NEVER HAD GAS HEAT SO I DONT QUITE UNDERSTAND Y U HAVE 2 USE GAS COULDNT U JUST SWITCH STUFF 2 ELECTRIC ??? I DO UNERSTAND THERE IS SOME COST N THAT BUT N THE END WOULDNT THAT B CHEAPER ???

Posted by: Hear me on Aug 10, 2008 at 07:09 AM
Hear me well gas companies ur greed will ruin you, if you do this you will cost many people theyre lives I and others barely survived last yr. and if you cost and do these things to ur fellow man, it will cost you how many wells do you have how much in manpower and materials plus the lost output would it cost you if something were to happen to them?

Posted by: Rob on Aug 9, 2008 at 01:11 PM
"Almost Heaven, West Virginia".....well if it costs this much to live here, I sure can't afford to go to heaven.

Posted by: Raven on Aug 9, 2008 at 12:16 PM
I say its time we stood up to these so called commissioners.Write Them Call them DEMAND they represent us instead of the gas company.the PSC commissioners are Michael A. Albert Chairman Commissioner of the Public Service Commission of Charleston, Kanawha County 843 Spring Rd Charleston, WV 25314 304-346-3252 Jon W. McKinney Commissioner of Charleston, Kanawha County 1618 Teter Rd Charleston, WV 25314 304-342-4475 Edward H. Staats Commissioner Ed resides in Jackson County.

Posted by: what??? on Aug 9, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Time for kerosene heaters and electric blankets. We struggled through last winter to pay the gas bill because it is already outragous. GREAT!

Posted by: Oh why not? on Aug 9, 2008 at 11:16 AM
oh why not? EVERYTHING else is HIGHER here in almost heaven! ALL our utilities are THE highest in the nation so go ahead and up them even more SINCE we're ALSO the 49th in income! Just finish us off!

Posted by: Lisa on Aug 9, 2008 at 07:32 AM
Looks like its going to be a long cold winter.The rich keep getting richer and the middle class is paying the bill.this is outrageous.I want to know who to contact to COMPLAIN.help please

Posted by: Rick on Aug 9, 2008 at 07:28 AM
WSAZ Please Post the PUBLIC hearing schedules for each city i think we all need to attend these meetings to voice our concern for the unfortunate and elderly of our state.This is disgusting whats next $3.00 for a gallon of water

Posted by: john on Aug 9, 2008 at 07:06 AM
Got my gas bill yesterday,14.99 a cubic foot.If you look at the historical market,the most they had to pay for gas was around 13 bucks a foot in July,and they want more?Talk about being gouged...enough already!..and the PSC,they are just yes men...check out www.oilnergy.com and click the graph icon on the right of henry hub gas prices.You`ll see what they`re paying compared to what we have to pay them.....

Posted by: wowed on Aug 9, 2008 at 02:14 AM
The 8.37 is what markwest and others pay on the spot market in futures. Many gas companies pay only .35 to 70 cents per decatherm ( a new measuring standard) on contracts 40-50 years old. Many of the purchases on those wells are not going thru right now because many gas wells are shut in. Any shortage is either created or imagined. The PSC knows this, but many are in bed together these days.........

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 8, 2008 at 11:58 PM
IT'S JUST PLAIN CRAZY!! I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY EXPECT PEOPLE TO PAY MORE THAN WHAT THEY ALREADY DO. I SURE HOPE IT DOESN'T PASS BECAUSE THEIR ARE GOING TO BE ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO FREEZE.

Posted by: Vance on Aug 8, 2008 at 10:35 PM
In response to "Have They Lost Their Minds"........the answer is YES. The price of natural gas today dropped below $8.00 per mcf. This is just greed!!

Posted by: JC on Aug 8, 2008 at 09:53 PM
How can people try to stop this? Write the Utilities Commission protesting? With the information posted by "Have they lost their minds", I would figure that should be a good argument. I will be forced to move if gas raises along with the other utilities.

Posted by: Rob on Aug 8, 2008 at 09:49 PM
I foresee the sale of electric blankets skyrocketing.....Wal-Mart! Here we come!

Posted by: William on Aug 8, 2008 at 09:47 PM
Why are the naural gas companies wanting such an increase. I thought most of our natural gas came from the U.S. supplies. Is someone charging a toll on pipeline use?

Posted by: Lisa on Aug 8, 2008 at 07:46 PM
I guess I better make sure that my kids have really warm coats and lots of blankets this winter, there is no way I can afford to pay any more than what I barely was able to pay last winter. Thanks Mountaineer Gas!!

Posted by: jim on Aug 8, 2008 at 07:37 PM
46% raise out of nowhere? there is no way that there is a need for that much increase.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 8, 2008 at 07:34 PM
We can't afford this, MOuntaineer!!!! What are people going to do?

Posted by: beth on Aug 8, 2008 at 05:05 PM
guess we will All have to relocate south, can't afford to live in wild wonderful wva.

Posted by: Vicki on Aug 8, 2008 at 04:45 PM
Have they lost thier minds? People had a hard enough time paying the natural gas bills last winter. If they do this there will be more people trying to get some type of assistance or just freezing. What about people that are older and on a fixed income? I think the gas companies are getting way too greedy!

Posted by: Concerned on Aug 8, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Just how would the 7 gas companies like us to pay for a 46% increase when we are scraping every penny right now to afford to buy gas to get to work and groceries. Maybe they should be a little less concerned in making million/billion profits and a lot more concerned people not being able to pay a ridiculous 46% increase. People go to prision for robbing people. I don't see any difference in a person robbing a house and a gas company robbing people with a 46% increase.

Posted by: barelyabletopaynow on Aug 8, 2008 at 02:12 PM
How ridiculous. What are the non-millionares supposed to do?

Posted by: Have they lost their minds? on Aug 8, 2008 at 01:55 PM
I'm watching the stock market now and natural gas is selling at $8.37; Mountaineer Gas charges the customer $12.3780 per cubic ft. on the bill plus $6.00 for being a customer. If this happens most will be paying approx. $17.57 a cubic ft. Just 2 cubic ft. of gas will be approx. $45.00 (including tax & customer charge).On average is what they have listed in the article; that would average out to $7.63 a day for 30 days. Many families will choose not to turn on their heat. The American families cannot continue to fork out money that already IS NOT THERE!!! Even phasing them in would hurt. Some employees raises have/are being taken by high gas, electric, water, insurance, and of course don't forget the new home rule that will be implemented into the City of Huntington's residents- fees by percentage. The madness has to stop

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