About our rate case
On May 15, 2025, the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) approved a settlement among Columbia Gas of Virginia and the parties in its base rate case originally filed on April 29, 2024. This approval supports the Company’s continued improvements to its natural gas distribution system. The base rate adjustment approval allows an increase in annual revenues of approximately $40.7 million, which includes approximately $12.5 million of revenues associated with investments under Columbia Gas of Virginia’s SAVE infrastructure replacement program.
As part of the rate case process, interim rate changes became effective with the first billing unit in October 2024, subject to refund. The SCC ultimately approved a rate change that was less than what Columbia Gas had proposed, so we will refund the difference with interest to customers. Customers will see refunds for the interim rate period reflected in their June or July bills.
Current tariff
The SCC approves rules and regulations that govern the operations and rates of Columbia Gas of Virginia. See our tariff for our rules and regulations.
2024 CVA Rate Case Final Order
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this mean for my bill?
Under the new rates, the total bill for an average residential customer who purchases 5.1 therms of gas per month from Columbia Gas will increase from $76.26 to $82.47, or by 8.14 percent
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Were customers charged interim rates?
Interim rates went into effect for the October 2024 billing cycle and will be replaced by the new rates that were approved by the SCC on May 15, 2025. An interim rate is an amount that is billed for a temporary period of time based on the rates proposed in Columbia Gas’s rate case filing. Since the SCC ultimately approved a rate change that was less than what Columbia Gas had proposed, we will refund the difference to customers, with interest.
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When will customers see the refunds on their bill?
Based on the difference between the revised base rates approved by the SCC in May 2025 and the interim rates introduced in October 2024, customers will see refunds for the interim rate period reflected in their June or July bills.
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What are base rates?
Base rates generate the revenue needed to recover the costs to repair, upgrade and operate Columbia Gas of Virginia’s natural gas delivery system. This system includes more than 5,530 miles of pipelines, regulator stations, meters and other facilities. Base rates represent about 60 percent of a typical customer’s total bill. The remaining 40 percent of the bill consists of natural gas commodity costs. As a regulated utility, Columbia Gas purchases gas on the wholesale market and, under Virginia law, passes those natural gas costs on to the customer without mark-up or profit.
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What is a rate case?
Unlike most businesses, which can change the price of their product/service without outside approval, regulated energy providers—like Columbia Gas—must submit a detailed request to change their base rates. The request includes evidence to support the increase and demonstrate how it benefits customers.
The process—referred to as a rate case—must be decided by the SCC.
This rate case review is public. All of the documents that were part of this rate case can be found on the SCC website here. The Docket Number for this rate case is PUR-2024-00030.
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Why does Columbia Gas need to adjust its rates?
Columbia Gas filed a request with the SCC for approval to adjust base rates for distribution service to allow for the Company’s continued improvements to its natural gas distribution system; to continue to provide safe, reliable and high-quality service to its customers; and to accommodate the sustained demand for natural gas in the areas Columbia Gas serves. Columbia Gas of Virginia provides natural gas distribution service to approximately 290,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in 98 cities, towns and counties throughout its Northern, Piedmont, Central and Tidewater operating regions.
From 2023 through 2025, Columbia Gas expects to make over $442 million in capital investments for the benefits of customers. This includes investments made through Columbia Gas’s Steps to Advance Virginia’s Energy (SAVE) Plan, which modernizes the Company’s distribution system by replacing pipelines and other natural gas facilities to enhance the safety and reliability of the system. Facility replacements through SAVE also reduce, or have the potential to reduce, greenhouse gas emissions.
The requested increase in base rates does not include the cost of natural gas delivered to customers. The charge for the natural gas commodity itself, which is separate from base rate charges, recovers the cost of the natural gas used by customers and is passed directly through to customers dollar for dollar with no markup. Columbia Gas does not profit on that portion of the bill, by Virginia law.
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When will this adjustment impact my bill?
Interim customer rates based on our filing went into effect in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to refund. Based on the difference between those interim rates and the revised base rates approved by the SCC in its final order, customers will see refunds for the interim rate period reflected in their June or July bills.
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What are the customer benefits in this rate adjustment?
Infrastructure Upgrades. We are enhancing the safety of our system through our SAVE pipeline replacement program by investing millions of dollars each year to replace aging distribution pipelines. We remain committed to providing safe, reliable, and efficient natural gas distribution service.
System Reliability. Upgrades to the system with plastic and cathodically protected steel pipe not only maintain safety, but also provide an upgraded system design ensuring more reliable service during extreme cold temperatures.
Pipeline Maintenance Enhancements. Sustained and enhanced system maintenance practices will further improve the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas. Columbia Gas is also proposing improvements to reduce the amount of damage done to our distribution facilities by external parties, a high risk to the safety of our system.
Safety Enhancements. In addition to infrastructure replacement projects through the SAVE Plan, Columbia Gas is proposing expanded data verification and collection processes for its pipelines, and improvements for locating and marking gas facilities. These are a few of the many safety initiatives Columbia Gas is proposing that will enhance the safety and reliability of its system.
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When was the last time Columbia Gas asked to adjust its base rates?
The previous base rate adjustment was requested in April 2022. Columbia Gas continues to invest millions of dollars in its distribution system and filing a rate adjustment request with the SCC provides Columbia Gas with the opportunity to earn a fair return on its substantial investment in safety and system reliability and to recover the costs of operating and maintaining its system.
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Why did Columbia Gas request this increase?
Safety is Columbia Gas’s number one priority, and we are committed to our continued investment in the safest possible natural gas delivery system for our customers and communities. From 2023 through 2025, Columbia Gas expects to make over $442 million in capital investments for the benefits of customers. This filing seeks a reasonable return for our investment in replacing and upgrading our natural gas distribution system.
Additionally, Columbia Gas is focused on safely operating and maintaining our pipeline system, meeting or exceeding all federal and state requirements. This base rate request incorporates expenses associated with safety initiatives and improved processes for locating company facilities that will reduce third-party damages to the distribution system, which is a high risk to our system.
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What about customers who have trouble paying their bills?
At all times, Columbia Gas is committed to providing our low-income customers with the tools, resources, and programs to stay safe and warm in their homes. These programs help customers mitigate the impact of a rate adjustment or financial changes
HeatShare: A special heating assistance program funded by our contributions and donations from our caring customers, HeatShare provides grants to low-income residential customers to pay off past-due bills or restore service. Administered by the Dollar Energy Fund, the Columbia Gas HeatShare program is available to eligible customers who have exhausted all other available energy assistance programs.
Age and Income Qualifying Program: Eligible customers could receive supplies to help you save energy on water and home heating. Please contact our contract partner Community Housing Partners at 1-888-229-3714.
Expanded Payment Plans: Columbia Gas offers an expanded number of flexible payment plans to help spread the balance due on natural gas bills across multiple months. We’ve made it easy to enroll in our 3-, 6-, 9- or 12-Month Basic Extended Payment Plans by visiting www.columbiagasva.com/paymentplans or by calling us at 1-800-543-8911.
Budget Payment Plan: Available to all Columbia Gas customers, the Budget Payment Plan allows customers to spread annual bills evenly across the year instead of paying account balances each month, helping to eliminate high winter bills.
More information on billing assistance programs can be found on our website at www.columbiagasva.com/assistance. For more information about the rate adjustment, please visit www.columbiagasva.com/rates.
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