This page last edited: Fri, Jan. 28, 2005, 3:07:23 AM EST
January 28, 2005
Consumer Advocate Economist to Discuss Utility Costs Feb. 8
Natural Gas Increases Blamed for Bill Boosts Far Above Inflation Rate in Hinton
by David Kinchen
Hinton News Network Writer
Hinton (HNN) — "I'm from Charleston and I'm here to help you." That isn't exactly the message from the Consumer Advocate Division of the West Virginia Public Service Commission, but it's close enough for government work.
Byron Harris, a staff economist for the CAD, will speak at a public hearing at the City Sidetrack Park building here at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2005, to explain to interested residents - which should include all the 2,800 people in this historic river/railroad city -- why utilities - especially natural gas - cost more in Hinton than in any other city in the state.
"I'm excited to get the opportunity to come to Hinton and talk about the reason for high utility costs," Harris said. "The main reason, of course, is the high cost of natural gas service in that area."
Natural gas service in Hinton is provided by West Virginia Power Gas, a unit of Hagerstown, Md.-based Allegheny Power. In an HNN story in December 2004, CAD Director Billy Jack Gregg said that the monthly cost of 13,000 cubic feet of natural gas from WV Power Gas was $164.08, the highest of any state gas supplier. The statewide average for 2004-2005 was $157.16. The lowest cost provider for the same period was Mountaineer Gas at $147.44, Gregg said.
In its annual report released earlier this month, the PSC's Consumer Advocate Division once again shows Hinton at the top of the heap in statewide overall utility rates, with an average consumer paying $274.45 a month for natural gas, electricity, water and basic telephone service.
According to the report, this compares with a statewide average of $248.81 for the 2004-2005 heating season. The statewide average is up 11.5 percent over the 2003-2004 season, he said in the report that was released in mid January, 2005. The increase for Hinton was 12.4 percent, from $244.22 for the basic package (600 kilowatts of electricity, 13,000 cubic feet of gas, 4,500 gallons of water and single-party, flat-rate telephone service).
Mayor Cleo Mathews requested the meeting in the wake of numerous complaints about the high cost of utilities - especially natural gas - in a town with many people on Social Security and/or small pensions. The 2005 COLA for Social Security, 2.7 percent, was mostly dust in the wind in the wake of the largest annual increase in Medicare premiums in the 40-year-history of the program.
HNN suggests that those interested in attending the meeting check with the Hinton City Manager's office at 304-466-3255 in case a larger venue is chosen.
Related Stories: Utility Costs Explode.
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