Columbia Gas supplies almost all of Columbiana County and parts of Mahoning.

By D.A. Wilkinson | September 11, 2008 at 12:09a.m.

SALEM — The Ohio Consumers’ Counsel — the state agency that looks out for consumers — says a proposed rate increase from Columbia Gas of Ohio will hurt the elderly and those who live alone.

The staff of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio — which sets your gas rates — likes the idea of an increase, however.

But Shana Eiselstein, a spokeswoman for the PUCO, said the staff’s views do not reflect the beliefs of the PUCO’s five members.

And Ken Stammen, a spokesman for Columbia Gas of Ohio, said the proposed move will greatly change how the utility does business.

For example, if your gas line breaks now, you pay for the repair. Under the new plan, Columbia Gas will make the repairs, but probably through contractors.

Columbia Gas serves almost all of Columbiana County, parts of Mahoning County and exactly 50 customers in Trumbull County.

Hearings have not been set to get public comments on the proposed increase.

Ryan Lippe of the consumers’ counsel, however, said many customers will see a rate increase even if they don’t use any more gas, and that’s what will hurt most single and elderly consumers.

Each gas bill comes with a monthly charge. That rate is $6.50.

The rate, however, would go to $12.97 a month in the first year of the two-year plan, and rise to $19.76 a month in the second year.

Lippe said that’s about a 30 percent cost increase over which the customer has no control.

Singles or the elderly in smaller homes — who may have taken steps to insulate or weatherize their property to reduce costs — would take the brunt of the increase. Lippe said they are the people who have tried to “go green.”

The person who isn’t going to be affected, he added, has a five- or six-bedroom house and can afford to turn up the thermostat.

At the PUCO, Eiselstein said dates should be announced later this month to get the comments.

The PUCO itself will have hearings into Columbiana Gas’s request also at a later time.

Despite the staff support for the price hikes, Eiselstein said, “The staff’s comments do not reflect the views of the PUCO commissioners.”

The commissioners also will receive briefs from interested groups and weigh the information before making a decision, she said.

Stammen said Columbia hasn’t had a base rate increase since 1994.

The company makes 20 percent of its revenue from providing the service. The utility doesn’t make a profit on providing the gas that is 80 percent of a customer’s bill. That is regulated by the PUCO.

“That’s not really encouraging conservation to use less gas,” Stammen said.

The utility also is looking at improving 4,000 miles of transmission lines in the state that are old. Columbia is looking at replacing $1 million in such lines in Salem alone in the next two years, he said.

Devices call risers that connect the gas line to the customer’s meters are now repaired by home-owners. Future repairs would be done by the utility, Stammen added.

wilkinson@vindy.com