PSC JUDGE APPROVES NATURAL GAS INCREASE TO CONSUMERS

(10/16/2008)

Even with public protest and falling market prices, the chief administrative law judge with the state Public Service Commission is recommending rate increases for natural gas companies in the Mountain State. Over a half-dozen of the state's largest providers have asked for consumer increases as high as 46%. Chief Judge Melissa Marland issued the recommendations with final rates to be approved in March, according to reporter Justin Anderson with the Charleston Daily Mail. Byron Harris, the state's consumer advocate, says he intends to ask the commission to reject Marland's recommendations and bring the rate increases down even lower. "We don't think there's any reason to hammer people this winter with high natural gas prices," Harris said. Marland rejected the Consumer Advocate Division's request that the increases be spread out over a couple of years to minimize the impact on residential customers. Natural gas prices have plummeted in the wake of the Wall Street crisis.

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