Gas Rate Changes Proposed | News

Gas Rate Changes Proposed

September 18, 2024

Midwest Energy is seeking Board approval of a natural gas rate case, along with changes to language in electric and natural gas tariffs, with changes to be effective Jan. 1, 2025. The new rates would ensure rates remain balanced across classes and keep tariff language up-to-date.

The new rates would ensure rates remain balanced across classes and keep tariffs up-to-date. Monthly customer charges would remain unchanged for residential customers, but increase slightly for all other classes. The Gas Cost-of-Service Rider, currently $3.48 per month for residential customers, wouldreset to $1.74 per month.

Several changes to electric and natural gas tariffs were also proposed, including changing the cap to the Gas Cost-of-Service Rider form $900,000 per year to 4.5% annually, and adding language to the Energy Cost Adjustment (ECA) and Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) for collecting revenue for reserves to hedge against wholesale energy prices and future capacity needs. Additional tariff language was proposed to allow for energy consumption to be billed at the actual energy prices during periods of high volatility typically associated with extreme weather events. 

To explain the changes, Midwest Energy will hold a series of public information meetings throughout its service area. All Midwest Energy customers are invited to attend.

Phillipsburg: Thursday, Oct. 24, 6 p.m. @ Huck Boyd Community Center
Hays: Tuesday, Oct. 29, 6 p.m. @ BriefSpace
Colby: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m. @ City Limits Convention Center
Scott City: Thursday, Nov. 7, 6 p.m. @ Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center

The exact wording of modifications to electric and natural gas tariffs and approved changes will be posted on the company’s website, www.mwenergy.com, no later than Oct. 25.

Customers have the opportunity to send comments regarding the proposed rate changes to Midwest Energy no later than Friday, Nov. 8. Comments should be addressed to Justin MacDonald, Vice President of Customer Service, at jmacdonald@mwenergy.com, or by phone at (800) 222-3121. 

All Midwest Energy members are invited to attend an open member meeting, where the Board of Directors will vote on the proposed changes. That meeting will be held on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 at 1 p.m., at the Midwest Energy Office, 1330 Canterbury Dr., Hays.