Improvement Projects
Columbia Gas of Ohio’s proposed base rate case will enhance the reliability of its natural gas delivery system, increase energy conservation, improve customer convenience, and promote economic development in Ohio.
Major Components of the Investment:
Aging pipeline replacement
Modernizes the system for safer delivery and potential economic development. Columbia will invest more than $2 billion in the next 25 years replacing 4,000 miles of natural gas infrastructure.
Riser Replacement Program
Addresses an identified safety issue at no direct cost to impact customers. Columbia has surveyed every one of its customers in Ohio and will be replacing more than 300,000 risers during the next several years.
Customer Service Line Responsibility
Customers will no longer be subject to repairs that can individually run into the thousands of dollars. Columbia will assume responsibility for the maintenance and replacement of customer service lines for its more than one million customers across the state.
Columbia Gas does not control the cost of the delivered product—natural gas. Through a base rate set by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), Columbia raises revenue from customers to pay for the natural gas delivery system. The pending base rate case is the first increase Columbia has sought in 14 years and represents an increase to average bills of 5 percent.
- Part of Columbia’s proposed rate case is a comprehensive energy conservation plan that would help customers save up to 1% of their natural gas consumption—which would save Ohio consumers in excess of $100 million over the life of this program.
- This energy conservation program is available to all residential and commercial customers using less than 300 Mcf per year—which means nearly 98 percent of Columbia’s customers qualify.