Ohio Valley Gas Planning Rate Increase; Consumer Comments Invited

Comments must be submitted no later than May 8.

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(Southeast Indiana) - Calling all Ohio Valley Gas (OVG) customers.

You are invited to comment on the utility’s proposed rate increase.

Consumers who wish to submit written comments for the case record may do so via the OUCC’s website at www.in.gov/oucc/2361.htm or by email at uccinfo@oucc.in.gov or by mail at:

Public Comments
Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC)
115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 SOUTH
Indianapolis, IN 46204

The OUCC needs to receive all written consumer comments no later than May 8 so that it can consider them in preparing its testimony and file them with the Commission to be included in the case’s formal evidentiary record.

Comments should include the consumer’s name, city and zip code and a reference to either “IURC Cause No. 46011” or Ohio Valley Gas Rates.

OVG is seeking a two-step $12 million (35%) increase in its annual operating revenues. According to its first filing, the utility is seeking the increase due to infrastructure improvements and higher operating and maintenance costs.

The utility’s testimony and exhibits show that its request, when fully implemented in September 2025, would raise total residential natural gas charges as follows for the Texas Gas Service Area of Dearborn, Fayette, Franklin, Perry, Ripley, Spencer, and Union counties.

OVG’s residential gas bills for the Texas Gas service area include a monthly $14.45 customer service charge, which does not vary based on usage. It would rise to $22.43 under the utility’s request. The remainder of the bill varies by customer usage.

The current base rates received IURC approval in October 2017. Total billing amounts have varied since then due to changes in wholesale commodity costs along with incremental increases to pay for specific infrastructure and federally mandated costs as allowed by Indiana law.

Base distribution rates comprise 50 percent of a typical customer’s residential natural gas bill. They cover “non-gas” costs such as operating and maintenance expenses and capital infrastructure improvements. The remainder of the typical monthly bill pays for the natural gas itself, which the utility recovers on a dollar-for-dollar basis subject to OUCC review and IURC approval every three months.

OVG provides natural gas service to approximately 28,500 customers across 16 southern and east-central Indiana counties.

The IURC has scheduled a public field hearing in this case for Thursday, April 18 in Connersville at Roberts Park – James Roberts Memorial Building. The hearing will begin at 6:00 p.m.