Interim Rates Take Effect & Town Hall Meetings Planned in Black Hills Rate Case
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/BlackHillsRateCaseTownHallMtgs
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
