Southwest Gas looks to lower rates in 2014 for Northern Nevada customers
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Thu, 09/05/2013 - 2:36pm
Southwest Gas is looking to make a rate adjustment for 2014 that would, if approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, decrease rates for Northern Nevada customers amounting to about 4 cents in summer and 18 cents in winter.
The Public Utilities Commission will hold a consumer session Wednesday, Sept. 11, to hear public comment regarding the annual rate adjustment application of Southwest Gas. If approved by the commission, the company proposes the rate changes take effect Jan. 1.
The Wednesday, Sept. 11, meeting begins at 6 p.m. in Hearing Room A of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada office, 1150 E. William St., Carson City.
Nevada law requires natural gas utilities to file annual rate adjustment applications to review the reasonableness and prudence of gas costs for the past year. In addition to this review, this application adjusts the tracking rates for variable interest expense and unrecovered gas cost expense. Rates that only affect transportation customers (industrial and large commercial customers) and renewable energy program rates are also adjusted in this application.
The annual rate adjustment application is separate from applications that adjust the general rates and the quarterly gas cost filings that pass-through the recorded costs of natural gas.
The overall effect of the proposed rate changes would result in increased monthly customer charges in Southern Nevada and a decrease in Northern Nevada.
The average Southern Nevada residential customer monthly bill would increase an estimated 3 cents during the summer and 11 cents in winter. The average Northern Nevada residential customer monthly bill would decrease an estimated 4 cents during the summer and 18 cents in the winter.
There will be a video conference in Las Vegas, 6 p.m. at the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada
9075 West Diablo Drive, Suite 250.
Public comment at the consumer session will be limited to the contents of the annual rate adjustment application. Southwest Gas Corporation representatives will be present to answer questions. For information about the consumer session, contact the PUCN at (775) 684-6101 or (702) 486-7210.
Information about Southwest Gas Corporation’s application can be found on the PUCN’s website here. From the top navigational bar on the home page, select Dockets, followed by All Dockets. Scroll to docket number 13-06006 and click View.
