Piedmont Natural Gas announced on Apr. 1 that it has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina seeking to adjust its base rates and reduce natural gas cost rates for customers in the state.
The proposed changes are intended to help Piedmont recover recent capital investments and address increased costs of capital since its last rate case in 2022. If approved, the new rates would take effect Oct. 1, with a typical residential customer expected to pay about $7.67 more per month, or $92 more annually.
The company is also requesting concurrent reductions in pass-through natural gas costs, which it says will help lessen the overall impact on customer bills. The total revenue increase requested amounts to 6.3%.
Emily Henson, president of Piedmont Natural Gas, said: “Piedmont works to keep costs as low as possible while safely and reliably serving our customers.” She added: “Raising rates is a decision we never make lightly, and we know any increase may be challenging to some customers.”
Henson continued: “Piedmont remains focused on helping our customers manage their bills and energy usage. We offer a variety of options, including our Equal Payment Plan program, payment assistance programs, and energy-saving tips and tools.”
To support customers who may need assistance managing higher bills, Piedmont highlights several programs such as the Equal Payment Plan (EPP), which allows for predictable monthly payments based on annual usage; Share the Warmth, which provides funds through local agencies; and participation in federal programs like the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). Additional information is available at piedmontng.com/AssistancePrograms.
Piedmont serves approximately 170,000 customers across Anderson, Spartanburg, Greenville and Cherokee counties in South Carolina. The company also offers energy-saving tips designed to help households reduce their natural gas usage throughout the year.
Looking ahead, Piedmont says it will continue working with regulators during this proceeding while maintaining its focus on affordability initiatives for all customer groups.
