ONG’s request to raise rates by another $2.49 a month for residential customers goes before Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners this week. Regulators will have to consider the opposition from the utility’s customers.
The request by Oklahoma Natural Gas covers a base rate hike of $28,693,017 according to the filing made by the utility in late May. The hike would apply to the firm’s 875,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout the state.
But it has met opposition among customers who forwarded their comments to the state regulators.
“I am on very fixed income—it (is) very hard for me to survive,” said one customer.
Another stated in a hand-written note, “I am a low income senior citizen who cannot afford another bill increase—I oppose another increase, every penny counts.”
“I am on a fixed income, social security and find it more difficult every day to survive,” wrote another.
There were others.
“Please do not allow them to increase our rates. So many of us are struggling like myself and simply cannot afford to pay our gas bill as it is,” said one, adding. “I believe in making an honest living and large corporations making a profit, but don’t they have a sizeable profit as it is?”
Still another wrote, “ONG should show their appreciation and understanding to their customers and not do an annual rate increase this year. So many people have endured great suffering with the pandemic and weather-related disasters. Cut out the advertising and downsize where possible.”
ONG contends the primary driver of the rate change request is its investment of nearly $185 million in infrastructure. It pointed out that the company made more than $863 million in investments since the rate case in 2015.
ONG had no rate increases in its 2017, 2018 and 2019 filings.
The hearing will be held Oct. 26 at 1:30 p.m.