Summit County Council adopts resolution opposing Dominion Energy's proposed rate hike

On Monday, Summit County Council unanimously adopted a resolution opposing a 30% proposed rate hike by Dominion Energy Ohio, according to a news release.

If the increase is approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), Dominion consumers’ monthly fixed basic service charge for natural gas distribution would increase from $43.27 to $56.31.

Dominion, which is being acquired by Canadian gas utility Enbridge, is also seeking to increase other monthly distribution charges by more than $8.78 beginning in 2025, which could increase to as much as $29.69 per month by 2032.

Summit County Council President Rita Darrow initially sponsored and introduced the resolution passed by council on Monday.

Darrow provided the following statement to the Beacon Journal: “These proposed increases in natural gas distribution service may negatively impact the County’s efforts to attract new business and jobs, depress the housing market, and place an undue financial burden on our residents.”

Akron City Council voted 12-0 last month to adopt legislation opposing the rate increase and asking PUCO to decline Dominion's request.

Dominion states on its website that the proposed rate increase would go toward the utility's payment of property taxes and operating and maintenance costs.

More than 180 public comments have been submitted in Dominion’s proposal to PUCO, case no. 23-0894-GA-AIR. Comments include adopted resolutions opposing the hike by Seven Hills City Council in Cuyahoga County, as well as by Liberty Township trustees, Cortland City Council and Lordstown Village Council in Trumbull County.

J.P. Blackwood, spokesman for the independent state watchdog agency Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), said all resolutions and public comments become a formal part of the docket in a PUCO rate case.

"And when something's part of the docket, the commission must consider it as evidence in the case," he said.

Blackwood said the OCC encourages the public to make their voices heard in the case, whether that's through reaching out to PUCO in writing or during a hearing or urging their city or county government to pass resolutions.

"It's a very large increase request," he said.

Blackwood explained that the 30% increase would affect consumers "before they even touch the thermostat, before they use a cubic foot of natural gas or a single molecule of natural gas, even."

Beyond that proposed 30% increase to the "basic service charge," Dominion's other proposed charges are "add-on" charges, he said.

Blackwood said consumers can learn more about the case, the OCC’s opposition to the rate increase and how to comment publicly at occ.ohio.gov/dominion-rate-increase-2024.

Consumers can make public comments at tinyurl.com/rateincrease23.

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: Summit County Council opposes Dominion's proposed gas rate increase