Columbia Gas customers to see adjustments in June or July bills
Chester, VA – The Virginia State Corporation Commission has approved a settlement among Columbia Gas of Virginia, Inc., a subsidiary of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), and the parties in its rate case originally filed in April 2024 to implement new base rates for Columbia Gas customers. The outcome, which followed a thorough regulatory review process, enables Columbia Gas to continue making the necessary investments to provide safe and reliable natural gas service to the communities it serves.
During the regulatory review process, Columbia Gas implemented interim changes in rates in the October 2024 billing cycle, subject to refund and based on the final outcome of the Commission’s decision. Now that a decision has been reached, Columbia Gas residential natural gas customers will receive a one-time refund in their June or July bill. The refund will reflect the difference between Columbia Gas’s newly-approved base rates and the October 2024 interim rates.
Base rates include costs associated with natural gas delivery, distribution, maintenance, emergency response and customer service, making up approximately 60 percent of a typical customer’s bill. The remaining 40 percent of the bill consists of natural gas costs, which are directly passed through to customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Going forward, residential customers will see their average monthly bills increase by an average of $6.21 per month, or approximately 8.14 percent, when compared with rates that were in effect prior to October 2024.
“Ensuring continued, long-term safety and reliability for our customers and the communities we serve is essential,” said Columbia Gas of Virginia President and Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Montague. “Our mission requires the necessary level of investments to modernize our energy infrastructure for our customers’ current and future energy needs.”
“Even with these necessary investments, we understand that any change in customer bills is meaningful,” added Montague. “Assistance is available, and we’re here to help and to work with customers to identify solutions to keep them connected.”
Columbia Gas customers who may need assistance with their energy bills are encouraged to reach out to Columbia Gas at 1-800-543-8911 or by visiting www.columbiagasva.com/assistance.
Customers with questions regarding rates and/or refunds may call 1-800-543-8911 or visit www.columbiagasva.com for more information.
About Columbia Gas of Virginia
Columbia Gas of Virginia delivers clean, affordable and efficient natural gas to approximately 290,000 customers in 98 communities across the Commonwealth. With headquarters in Chesterfield County, it is one of six regulated utility companies of NiSource (NYSE: NI), one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States. NiSource employees are focused on our mission to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers. More information about Columbia Gas of Virginia and NiSource, including our record of leadership in sustainability, investments in the communities we serve, and how we live our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner, is available at www.ColumbiaGasVA.com and www.NiSource.com.
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