Mount Vernon residents should expect a 1.6% increase in average natural gas bills, but the city is pointing to a 10% savings from its aggregation program to offset the rate hike.
In a Dec. 1 press release, the city said that Columbia Gas, the area’s primary natural gas supplier, expects to raise rates for two reasons: market pressure and to cover infrastructure improvement costs.
Natural gas market prices were about twice as high in November compared to the same month last year. Throughout the year, Columbia Gas has been replacing cast iron, wrought iron, unprotected coated steel and bare steel distribution pipelines alongside other hazardous service lines.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) allows Columbia Gas to recover the costs of certain infrastructure and energy-efficiency investments made in the previous calendar year by adjusting its rates.
Through September, the utility had already performed 58,200 home energy audits and assessments, with 40% of customers opting for energy-saving home improvements, Columbia Gas Vice President Vincent Parisi said in the release. With the expected revenue increase through the PUCO, Columbia Gas anticipates a $1.22 monthly increase in the average small general service rate and $671.58 for large, general-service natural gas customers.
The city said that while participants will still be charged a variable rate, it will remain 10% lower than the Columbia Gas Standard Choice Offer (SCO) rate, which is adjusted monthly based on natural gas market prices.
“For aggregation customers, Columbia Gas continues to be responsible for ensuring the distribution of natural gas to residential premises and continues to maintain the meter, monthly reads and pipelines that deliver natural gas to the homes of residents,” the release said. “Their bills also continue to come from Columbia Gas. The only changes residents see are the savings and the name of their new supplier, IGS Energy, on their bills.”
Columbia Gas expects that its natural gas bills will rise by about $1.63 per month for average customers in Mount Vernon by the first half of 2022, the release said.
“Utility rates clearly aren’t going down, so we’re pleased to be able to offer residents at least some break on their bills through our natural gas and electricity aggregation plans,” Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr said in the release. “We know that every little bit helps.”
Residents interested in receiving their natural gas through IGS Energy, the city’s aggregation supplier, can still opt-in to the program by calling Buckeye Energy Brokers toll-free at 866-302-2237 Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They may also call this number if they aren’t sure whether they’ve already opted in to the program and wish to check their status.
The city’s current natural gas aggregation plan will run through March 2022.
Assistance programs are available
Several programs are in place to help residents with winter energy bills.
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps Ohioans at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines pay their heating bills. To learn more or to apply, visit energyhelp.ohio.gov.
HEAP benefits are applied to an individual’s energy bill after Jan. 1. Applications for the HEAP program must be received by May 31, 2022.
For more information about HEAP, contact the Ohio Area Agency on Aging office at 419-524-4144 or 800-860-5799. To be connected to your local Energy Assistance provider, call 800-282-0880 (hearing impaired clients may dial 711 for assistance) or visit energyhelp.ohio.gov.
The Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) conducts an on-site energy audit for qualified applicants and lowers bills by reducing energy use, according to PUCO’s website. Improvements include increasing insulation, replacing or repairing furnaces, reducing air leakage and so on.
PUCO says on its website the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP Plus) “helps make monthly payments more affordable on a year-round basis and can erase old debt with on-time and in-full payments.”
Visit puco.ohio.gov to learn more about these and other assistance programs.
Columbia Gas also has a program allowing you to help pay the Columbia Gas bill of a friend, neighbor or loved one. Learn more at ColumbiaGasOhio.com/Gift.
