FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Interim Rates Take Effect & Town Hall Meetings
Planned in Black Hills Rate Case
Lincoln, August 25, 2020 – The Nebraska Public Service
Commission (PSC) reminds consumers that beginning
September 1, 2020, Black Hills Energy will begin charging
higher rates for its natural gas customers in Nebraska.
The interim rate increase is in conjunction with the
company’s rate case (NG-109) currently before the
Commission.
On June 1, 2020, Black Hills Energy filed an application
with the PSC seeking a $17.5 million general rate increase.
The proposal will increase Black Hills’ fixed customer
charges and distribution charges, the rates regulated by
the Commission. State law allows a utility to charge an
interim rate during the Commission’s review of the
application.
The Commission will hold a hearing on Black Hills’ proposal
beginning October 26, to hear evidence from the company,
the Public Advocate and the other parties. Customers are
represented by the Public Advocate, an attorney with
experience in natural gas matters. Lincoln Lawyer Bill Austin
is currently serving as the Public Advocate. The Commission
has until the end of January 2021 to rule on the application.
If the Commission approves a final rate that is lower than the
interim rate, the utility must refund the difference.
Customers will notice that bills are prorated. Because the rate
change takes effect on the first of the month, customers may
have some usage that occurred before the rate change, billed
at prior rates.
“We want to make sure customers know about the
general rate increase process currently underway and alert
them to the fact their bill will be going up in the interim,”
said Commissioner Dan Watermeier, NG-109 Hearing Officer,
Detailed information on the NG-109 Black Hills General Rate
Increase application can be found on the Natural Gas
Department Main page of the PSC website by clicking on the
NG-109 Black Hills Energy Rate Case
As a part of the rate case application process, and in order to
provide information and address questions regarding the
potential rate increase, the Commission will hold three virtual
Town Hall meetings. The Town Hall Meetings scheduled for
Tuesday, September 22 and Thursday, September 24 will be
held virtually due to the ongoing coronavirus public health
emergency. A detailed schedule of the Town Hall meetings
and information on participating can be found on the PSC
website @ https://tinyurl.com/BlackHillsRateCase
TownHallMtgs
Commissioner Watermeier said, “By holding town hall
meetings virtually over two-days and at various times, it
is our hope that consumers interested in participating
will be able to do so.”
The town hall meetings will begin with a presentation of
by Black Hills Nebraska Gas, followed by a presentation by
the Public Advocate. The public will then have the
opportunity to ask questions. Questions may also be
submitted in advance of the town hall meetings. A link to
submit questions can be found on the NG-109 Town Hall
Meeting page of the PSC website. Questions submitted
prior to the town hall meetings will be asked during one
of the town hall meetings. A recording of the Sept. 24,
town hall meeting will be made available when completed
on the PSC YouTube channel ###
Contact:
Deb Collins- Media & Communications Mgr.
(402) 471-0226
deb.collins@nebraska.gov
