WILKES-BARRE, Pa., March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- PG Energy has filed a request
with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PPUC) to increase its base
gas rates to natural gas customers effective May 15, 1998. The requested
increase, needed to recover increased plant investment and to allow continuing
upgrades and improvements to its 2,200 mile distribution system, totals
approximately $15.0 million annually or 8.25% of the Company's annual gas
revenues. The requested increase does not include the cost of gas which is
addressed in separate filings with the PPUC which reflect changes in the cost
of gas purchased from suppliers.
If the entire request is approved, the total bill for an average
residential heating customer using 11,400 cubic feet of natural gas per month
would increase $9 a month from $78 to $87. However, the billings to average
residential heating customers currently reflect an average monthly decrease of
$7 due to reductions in the cost of gas that were effective as of December 1,
1997 and March 1, 1998.
The total bill for a commercial customer using 47,400 cubic feet of
natural gas monthly would increase $12 a month from $301 to $313. Rates for
an industrial customer using 120,000 cubic feet of natural gas monthly would
decrease from $726 to $720. The varying effect of the request on the
different customer classifications reflects the associated costs of providing
service to each group.
PG Energy has established a toll free number, 1-888-505-9571, where
customers may call to obtain additional information on the proposed rate
increase or to find out what actions they may take.
PG Energy is a regulated subsidiary of Pennsylvania Enterprises, Inc.
(PEI) (NYSE: PNT). PG Energy and its subsidiary, Honesdale Gas Company,
provide natural gas to approximately 150,000 customers in 13 counties in
northeastern and central Pennsylvania. This base rate filing does not affect
the customers of Honesdale Gas Company.
PEI news releases are available 24 hours a day by fax machine or by
visiting the Company website on http://www.pnt.com. To receive a fax copy of
our news releases call 1-800-758-5804 on a touch tone phone and use PEI's ID
No. 684209. Follow the prompted instructions to receive a copy of our most
recent news release or a menu of our latest news releases. Company news will
be faxed to you immediately without charge.
SOURCE Pennsylvania Enterprises, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.pnt.com
CONTACT:
Albert Fereck of PEI, 717-829-8756
|
