Tag: Mountaineer Gas

Lawsuit Filed Over Gas Outages On Charleston’s West Side

A Charleston personal injury law firm sent a letter Thursday to Mountaineer Gas and West Virginia American Water.

A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the Charleston residents who’ve been without gas service for a week. Curtis Tate has more.

A Charleston personal injury law firm sent a letter Thursday to Mountaineer Gas and West Virginia American Water.

The letter asks the companies to preserve documents, recordings and computer files that may be relevant to the case.

The lawsuit was filed in Kanawha Circuit Court, seeking class-action status for hundreds of West Side residents who lost gas service following a water main break last Friday.

At the request of Gov. Jim Justice, the West Virginia Public Service Commission has launched an investigation into the outage.

Mayor Amy Goodwin said Friday that 380 gas customers had service restored, with another 90 awaiting inspection for reconnection.

Justice Wants PSC To Investigate Charleston Gas Outages

The gas outage, which began last Friday, was caused by a water main rupture on Charleston’s West Side, flooding the area’s gas lines with water.

Gov. Jim Justice said a water main break is to blame for a natural gas outage that’s affected hundreds of Charleston residents for nearly a week.

The gas outage, which began last Friday, was caused by a water main rupture on Charleston’s West Side, flooding the area’s gas lines with water.

Mountaineer Gas personnel had restored service to 260 customers by Thursday, according to Mayor Amy Goodwin, including an elementary school and a community center.

Justice, in his regular media briefing, said he wanted the state Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates utilities, to look at what happened.

“And that’s why I’ve asked the PSC to launch a full-fledged investigation in regard to this entire matter,” he said Thursday.

Kanawha County Schools Superintendent Tom Williams said meal boxes would be provided to affected students and their families on Friday, enough to get them through the weekend, with more meals coming to them on Tuesday.

Friends Across The Political Divide And Keeping The Nations Voter Rolls Clean, This West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, mental health continues to be in the spotlight with federal funds set aside to help finance multiple West Virginia programs.  We’ll also hear statistics from the recent mass distribution of the lifesaving Naloxone drug.

On this West Virginia Week, mental health continues to be in the spotlight with federal funds set aside to help finance multiple West Virginia programs.  We’ll also hear statistics from the recent mass distribution of the lifesaving Naloxone drug. And, more on West Virginia University and how faculty and students continue to grapple with widespread funding cuts.

There’s also good news for customers of Mountaineer Gas who can expect to see lower bills, and there’s new efforts to expand green technology in the state. 

We’ll also hear feature stories about science fiction and technology writer Corey Doctorow and ERIC – the Electronic Registration Information Center, and in this week’s US & Them we’ll hear how two friends manage to keep their relationship intact across the political divide.

Caroline MacGregor is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Caroline MacGregor, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

Mountaineer Gas Customer Bills Could Decrease If PSC Approves Plan

Under a proposed settlement filed last Friday, the rates would increase by 4 percent. However, the Kanawha County Commission said on Tuesday that rates would decrease if the PSC approves the plan.

Mountaineer Gas customers may get a break on their monthly bills if the Public Service Commission approves a settlement.

Mountaineer asked the PSC in March to approve a roughly 6 percent increase in base customer rates, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Under a proposed settlement filed last Friday, the rates would increase by 4 percent. However, the Kanawha County Commission said on Tuesday that rates would decrease if the PSC approves the plan.

That’s because the increase would be offset by a reduction in the Purchased Gas Adjustment and Infrastructure Replacement and Expansion programs.

According to the commission, the current average monthly cost to residential gas users is $98.30. Under the proposed settlement, the average would decrease to $88.69, a savings of $9.61.

The PSC last month approved an increase for Appalachian Power customers. An increase for West Virginia American Water customers is pending.

Kanawha County Commission Opposes Natural Gas Rate Increases

Mountaineer Gas customers will see their bills go up 15 percent, and Hope Gas customers will see theirs go up 28 percent.

Kanawha County commissioners “vehemently” oppose the double-digit rate increases the West Virginia Public Service Commission recently approved for Mountaineer Gas and Hope Gas.

Mountaineer Gas customers will see their bills go up 15 percent, and Hope Gas customers will see theirs go up 28 percent.

“Utility rate increases are always tough on customers, and these double-digit increases are devastating, especially during a time of record inflation,” said Commissioner Ben Salango.

Both increases are smaller than what the companies asked the PSC to approve.

About 300,000 natural gas customers statewide are affected by the decision.

The Kanawha County Commission has also voiced its opposition to a $297 million request from Appalachian Power. If approved, the average residential customer’s bill would increase $18 a month.

On Wednesday, the PSC will consider Mon Power’s request to raise its customers’ bills an average of $11 a month.

PSC Sets Higher Interim Natural Gas Bills For Mountaineer, Hope

Mountaineer Gas bills are set to increase 15 percent, and Hope Gas bills will go up 28 percent.

Household natural gas bills are going up, but not as much as the companies requested.

Mountaineer Gas bills are set to increase 15 percent, and Hope Gas bills will go up 28 percent.

That’s lower than what both companies requested from the West Virginia Public Service Commission. Mountaineer Gas had asked for a 38 percent increase. Hope Gas asked for a 62 percent increase.

The PSC allows natural gas companies to charge customers for the cost of delivering the fuel.

Natural gas prices have gone up since the economy rebounded from COVID-19. Also, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year increased demand for U.S. natural gas overseas.

The rates the PSC ordered on Monday are interim rates, and the commission said it will review and make adjustments before setting final rates.

Mountaineer Gas and Hope Gas customers will, for now, see average monthly bills of $166 and $173, respectively.

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