2024 Liberty Utilities (St. Lawrence Gas) Corp. - Major Gas Rate Case

Public Service Law Section 66(12)(l) requires the Public Service Commission (PSC) to publish certain information before a major rate change by a major gas or electric utility.

Liberty Utilities (St. Lawrence Gas) Corp. – Case 24-G-0668

On November 27, 2024, Liberty Utilities (St. Lawrence Gas) Corp. submitted a filing to the PSC (Case 24-G-0668), requesting an increase in annual gas revenues of approximately $2.174 million, (which the Company claims is a 11.45 percent increase in base delivery revenues, or a 6.12 percent increase in total revenues) compared to the revenues at the rates previously approved by the PSC, for the forecasted Rate Year, or the 12- months ending October 31, 2026.

The requested increase in gas revenues would result in typical monthly bill increases of:

Customer Type	Delivery Bill Increase/Decrease (%)	Bill Increase/Decrease ($)	Total Bill Increase/Decrease (%)
Residential using 81 Therms per month	+18.5 percent	+$10.91	+11.3 percent
Commercial using 549 Therms per month	+3.8 percent	+$8.63	+1.9 percent
Industrial using 40,786 Therms per month	+21.0 precent	+$859.39	+4.0 percent

Primary Rate Drivers: The Company indicates that its request for increased delivery revenue is being made to: recover increased operating costs associated with the Company’s responsibility of providing natural gas distribution service in a safe and reliable manner; make capital investments to continue to provide the level of service expected and deserved by customers; and to advance the objectives of the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, including the Company’s commitment to further greenhouse gas emission reductions.

The major components and drivers for the rate case are increases in net plant-in-service (41 percent), depreciation expense (13 percent), amortizations of regulatory deferrals (34 percent) and operation and maintenance expenses separate from pensions and other post-employment benefits (28 percent).

Return on Equity: In its filing, the Company states that its return on equity should be 9.9 percent for the Rate Year, which equates to approximately $0.176 million of its requested increase.

Estimated timeline of rate proceeding: Final schedules are set by the administrative law judge presiding over the case. From the initial filing date, Department of Public Service staff and intervening parties typically have four months for discovery, and to file testimony. Rebuttal testimony is generally filed three weeks after intervening party testimony. Hearings are generally held six months from the initial filing date.

How to submit public comment: Members of the public can post comments on each case before the PSC within the Document and Matter Management system (DMM).

To submit comments, fill out the Case 24-G-0668 comment form. Or visit the https://dps.ny.gov/file-search, enter the case number or a key word to find the case you would like to comment on.
On case files page, click on the "Post Comments" button in the upper right corner (below the navigation).
You must fill in your name, address, and email address to post your comment.
You have the option to add an attachment with your comment.

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