Lima First Ward Councilor Todd Gordon spoke about Enbridge’s proposed 30% price hike Monday at Lima Senior High School.
LIMA — Ten community members testified against the proposed 30 percent price hike by Dominion/Enbridge Gas Ohio at a Public Utilities Commission of Ohio hearing Monday at Lima Senior High School.
Each testimony similarly discussed the issues that will follow such a price hike.
According to the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, the request by Enbridge is unjustified. The OCC is calling for a price reduction that would result in a $294 million revenue decrease while seeking more assistance for Enbridge’s at-risk consumers for Ohio’s low-income population.
The first testimony was by resident Paul Basinger, who is upset about the lack of transparency Enbridge has shown its customers during this time.
“Enbridge has not provided sufficient justification as to why this is needed,” he said.
Resident David May mentioned he has never seen a time when PUCO decreased or rejected a price hike of this manner.
“Their employees (at Enbridge) wouldn’t take a 30 percent pay cut,” he also said.
Lima Sixth Ward Councilor Derry Glenn explained that right now is not the right time for an increase in utilities in the community.
“People are already without gas because they can’t afford it,” he said.
Glenn offered to show Enbridge employees around town to show how people are living.
“This rise forces people to make a decision that will cause harm, whether it’s a medication or not paying for little Johnny to go on a school field trip,” he said.
First Ward Councilor Todd Gordon said he can understand a raise, but 30 percent is too high. Gordon said he would rather Enbridge had used a common-sense approach where any increase would be small and sustainable.
“This area suffers,” he said.
Lima City Council President Jamie Dixon also objected to the proposed increase, saying that a significant portion of Lima’s population is not in a position to absorb that kind of additional expense.
“Twenty-three percent of the population is in the poverty range,” she said.
Third Ward Councilor and former water/utility office worker Carla Thompson gave a different perspective, saying such a rate hike would elicit a strong consumer response.
“People would address a 79-cent or 1-dollar raise in utility bills,” she said.
Citing Lima’s average median income of $41,000, Thompson pleaded with Enbridge to provide more than just a myth/fact sheet justifying the increase, instead plainly explaining why a 30% hike would improve the lives of customers.
The hearing was the last of the three revolving around this issue.
Stephanie Moore, a communications consultant at Enbridge, mentioned that the rise in prices is part of the process and said that the rate comes from expenses during a test year.
“It’s a very technical process,” she said.
Moore was not sure when the next step would be in terms of a decision being made.
“You want them to take the time and be thorough,” she said.
OCC staff attorney Thomas Brodbeck explained his hopes following the hearing.
“We strive for fair and reasonable rates for all consumers, and as part of that pursuit we want to see a lower rate,” he said.
Clint White and Mannette Asta are utility examiners at PUCO and serve as administrative law judges. Both of them listened to the case along with PUCO Commissioner Dan Conway and will ultimately make a future ruling.
Conway placed importance on a certain aspect of the hearing.
“We encourage and depend on stakeholders in times like this, especially the consumers,” he said.
Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351.
