NATURAL GAS PRICES SPIKE - Companies Seeking Up To 40% Increase

(08/04/2004)
A gas company whose CEO is making $7.2 million is asking for one of the biggest hikes in home and business gas prices.

Dominion Hope wants another hike, this time about 30% to help pay off rising prices they say they are paying for natural gas.

Dominion Chairman and CEO Thomas E. Capps was paid $7.22 million for his services.

Mountaineer Gas owned by Allegheny Power is seeking an increase of about 18%. If approved, that companies rates will have increased 85% since January 1, 2001.

Equitable has filed with the PSC for an increase of 40%.

All the companies say they are just passing along natural gas prices to their customers.

Thousands of West Virginia customers will be affected.