Enbridge Gas Utah decreases rates by nearly 30%, customers to see smaller bills; company says
The company's approved natural gas rate decrease to reduce customer's bills by nearly 30%
Jim Mone
FILE - This June 29, 2018 file photo shows tanks at the Enbridge Energy terminal in Superior, Wis. The state of Minnesota has gone to federal court to block a lawsuit over Enbridge Energy's Line 3 oil pipeline project from proceeding in tribal court. The novel case names Manoomin — the Ojibwe word for wild rice — as the lead plaintiff. Wild rice is sacred in Ojibwe culture and a traditional source of food. The lawsuit, which was filed two weeks ago in the White Earth Band's tribal court, is the first "rights of nature" enforcement case brought in a U.S. tribal court and the second such case to be filed in any U.S. court.
Utahns may start to see a smaller gas bill this summer.
According to a press release from Enbridge Gas Utah, the Public Service Commission of Utah or (PSC) recently approved the company’s request for a natural gas rate decrease by 29.53%.
For the average residential customer, the reduction would drop their monthly bill by about $23.12, and around $277.44 for the year, the gas company stated in the release.
Enbridge Gas Utah, formerly known as Dominion Energy, said the rate decrease went into effect on July 1. However, most residents may not see any reflection on their bill until the end of the month or August, depending on their billing cycle.
Though officials haven’t stated whether or not the rate reduction is temporary or permanent, the news aims to hopefully ease financial strains on families amid ongoing inflation.
“We are pleased to be able to provide such a large decrease for customers and return our rates to some of the lowest in the nation,” Judd Cook, Vice-President and General Manager of Enbridge Gas Utah said in the release. “Over the last few years, we have seen record high natural gas costs. We know that has had an impact on our customers. In addition to providing safe and reliable service, affordability is extremely important, and we work hard to pass on the savings from natural gas cost decreases as soon as possible to those we serve.”
The PSC of Utah sets the rates Enbridge Gas can charge their customers. They also require the utility to pass along any wholesale price changes for natural gas to its customers. Though this rate decrease follows Enbridge’s acquisition of Dominion Energy and recent re-brand, officials say the reduction in rates in is a typical result of their periodic rate adjustments and not related to the new company.
Utahns saw an 11% increase on their gas bill in March of 2023. Some residents were still feeling the impact of that rate hike over the past winter, adding about $8 to their monthly bill, The Salt Lake Tribune reported last fall.
“At least twice a year Enbridge Gas Utah and the PSC use third-party forecasts of natural gas prices to estimate how much the utility’s rates should be adjusted to cover anticipated costs of buying natural gas for its customers” Enbridge said in the release. “The “pass-through” adjustments simply enable the company to change rates to reflect changes in gas supply and other costs.”
While Utah residents may get to save some money on their gas bill, the extra cash may not go too far as electricity prices could soon increase. Rocky Mountain Power recently filed a proposal with the PSC to raise rates by just over 30%. Its rate hike would happen in two installments with an ultimate increase of 14.31 cents per kilowatt-hour beginning Jan. 1, 2026, according to a press release.
As Enbridge Gas Utah touts their rates as affordable and lower than the regional averages, they also welcome customers who are having a hard time keeping up with their monthly bills, to utilize the company’s payment assistance options.
Residents can contact Enbridge Gas Utah’s call center at 1-800- 323-5517, visit their website or dial 211.
