'It's outrageous': Akron residents speak out against Enbridge's proposed gas rate hike

A few Akron residents spoke in opposition to a rate hike being proposed by gas utility Enbridge, formerly Dominion, during a public hearing Thursday night at Akron-Summit County Public Library's main branch in Akron.

"I think it's outrageous," Akron resident David Guran told the Beacon Journal prior to delivering his sworn testimony before state utilities regulator Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).

Enbridge spokeswoman Stephanie Moore said the company is proposing about a 16% increase on customers' monthly bills.

The proposed increase comes out to about 30% of the distribution side of customers' natural gas bills, said J.P. Blackwood, spokesman for state watchdog agency Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC). The distribution side is roughly half of customers' bills, and the other half is the supply side, he said.

Under the proposal, the fixed basic service charge for natural gas distribution would increase from $43.27 to $56.31 per month.

PUCO provided a fact sheet at the event that states: "After its review of Enbridge's records and application, PUCO's staff recommends a revenue decrease in the range of $251 million to $225 million, or a decrease of 27 to 25 percent."

Blackwood said utilities deserve to charge a "reasonable cost to deliver a safe and reliable supply of natural gas ... plus a reasonable profit. But that's all they deserve."

Dominion decided to increase rates before it was acquired by Enbridge this year, Moore said. One factor in the utility's proposal to raise rates was to recover roughly $4 billion in investments it made into its distribution system in the state, Moore said, adding that the utility has not yet recovered $1 billion of those investments. A rate increase would also allow Enbridge to finance its responses to service calls and performing of maintenance around the clock, she said.

Guran noted the cost of living increases that people are facing, specifically stating: "Many poor live in housing with old furnaces and that are poorly insulated. This is not the time to add an additional cost to their basic needs."

John Williams, one of PUCO's five commissioners, said he is limited on what he can share regarding the open rate case but said there will be a case hearing in mid-November in Columbus.

"Both sides will have an opportunity to present their witnesses," he said. "They'll go through the whole thing. And then after that, the [administrative law judge] will then write up their decision, and at some time period after that, it will come before the commission for us to make a decision."

Williams said he does not know when a decision will be made.

PUCO also held a public hearing on Enbridge's proposed rate hike in Cleveland on Wednesday and will host another in Lima on Monday.

Blackwood said he attended the Cleveland hearing. There were at least 12 commenters there, and all of them came out in opposition to the proposed increase, he said.

Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at pwilliams@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @pwilliamsOH.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'It's outrageous': Akron residents speak out against Enbridge's proposed gas rate hike