Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania is seeking a rate increase. How to tell the state what you think

Members of the public who want to participate in hearings to address Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania’s proposed rate increase have one more day to sign up.

The state Public Utility Commission has set a registration deadline of noon Thursday, May 26, for consumers who wish to testify during the hearings, which will be held by phone.

If the Columbia Gas proposal is approved, the total monthly bill for a residential customer who purchases 70 therms of gas would increase by 10% — from $123.24 to $135.67. The monthly residential customer charge would rise from $16.75 to $24.75. A final decision on the rate increase from the PUC is due in December.

Columbia Gas serves customers in the State College area as well as much of southern and western Pennsylvania.

The hearings will be held at 1 and 6 p.m. May 31 and June 1. In order to testify, consumers must register in advance with the Office of Consumer Advocate by the noon deadline. Contact the office by phone at 800-684-6560 or by email at consumer@paoca.org and provide:

• First and last name
• The date and time (1 p.m. or 6 p.m.) of the hearing you would like to join
• The phone number you will use to call into the hearing
• A phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing, if necessary
• Your email address, if you have one
• If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.

Those who don’t want to testify and just want to listen to the hearings can contact the consumer advocate for call-in information.

The PUC offers these suggestions to those who wish to testify at a public hearing:

• Prepare what you are going to say beforehand. Even though it is not required, you may want to write out your statement.
• Formal testimony that is offered during the hearing will become part of the record on which the PUC will issue its final decision.
• Parties in the case may want to ask you a question to clarify something you said.