Atmos Energy has requested a rate increase from the Public Utilities Commission that would see residential rates in Southwest Colorado go up an average of 7.6 percent. Commercial customers would see their rates remain the same or decrease slightly.
The PUC granted the natural-gas company a $1.3 million increase in February, which became effective March 1. But now the utility is coming back to request an increase of another $4.8 million, saying it has invested $14 million in its delivery system since then.
“We broke down the actual cost to serve facilities in each individual rate class,” Atmos spokesman Brian Martens said. “In the case of the commercial class, they were already covering the cost of delivery, and their rate increase allocation from February was adequate.”
Atmos provides natural gas to more than 110,000 customers in 64 communities and 16 counties within Colorado. It is also requesting average monthly increases of 7.2 percent in the Northeast Region; 5.4 percent in the Northwest/Central region; and 7.7 percent in the Southeast Region.
Average monthly bills for commercial customers would go up about 0.1 percent in the northeast and 1 percent in the southeast. The Northwest/Central region would also see its rates remain the same or decrease slightly.
In general, it takes six to nine months for the PUC to approve a rate increase, Martens said, because staff has to collect public comments and research the request.
Public meetings will be held in Greeley and Cañon City, and public comments may also be submitted by mail or electronically.
The PUC spokeswoman did not respond to phone calls or emails asking why no public meetings would be held in Southwest Colorado.
abutler@durangoherald.com
To comment
The Public Utilities Commission will accept comments about Atmos Energy’s proposed rate increase for residential customers at two meetings. Both are scheduled to start at 4 p.m. and end no later than 6:30 p.m. No meetings are scheduled for Southwest Colorado.
Greeley: June 19 at the Farr Regional Library Meeting Room, 1939 61st Ave.
Cañon City: July 1 at a location to be determined.
Written comments may be submitted electronically at www.dora.colorado.gov/puc or by mail to the PUC, 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, CO 80202. All comments should be addressed to Docket No. 14AL–0300G.
