Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

Settlements reduce potential increases to Duke electric, natural gas customers

Apr. 02, 2013 – The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) staff, Duke Energy Ohio (Duke) and other parties signed two settlements today that will significantly reduce the impact to customers of the utility's proposed increases to its electric and natural gas distribution rates.

Settlements reduce potential increases to Duke electric, natural gas customers

Natural gas auction produces low price for Columbia consumers choosing the standard offer

Feb. 27, 2013 – Columbia Gas of Ohio customers who purchase their gas at the utility's standard offer rate will continue paying a low rate. Today, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved the results of yesterday's competitive auction that determined part of the standard offer rate for natural gas.

Natural gas auction produces low price for Columbia consumers choosing the standard offer

Natural gas auction produces low price for Dominion consumers choosing the standard offer

Feb. 20, 2013 – Dominion East Ohio customers who purchase their natural gas at the utility's standard offer rate will continue paying a low rate. Today, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved the results of yesterday's competitive auction that determined part of the standard offer rate for natural gas.

Natural gas auction produces low price for Dominion consumers choosing the standard offer

Vectren's standard offer for customers will remain low after price auction

Jan. 16, 2013 –Vectren customers who purchase their natural gas supply at the standard offer rate through the utility will continue paying a low rate. Today, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved the results of the auction which determined the standard offer rate. The rate will go into effect April 1.

Vectren's standard offer for customers will remain low after price auction

OCC Governing Board Passes Resolution

Jan. 15, 2013 – The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel Governing Board issued a resolution regarding consumers' energy choices..

Ohio Consumers' Counsel Governing Board approves resolution supporting low-priced energy choices

General Information

More than three million residential customer households receive natural gas from the four major investor-owned natural gas companies in Ohio, Dominion East Ohio Gas, Columbia Gas of Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio, and Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio. Natural gas customers are billed for the actual product they use as well as for the delivery of the natural gas (e.g. the pipeline system, meters, billing system, etc.). The cost of natural gas accounts for about 65 percent of customers' monthly bills. Currently, due to the expansion of natural gas resources in Ohio and neighboring states, as well as unseasonably warm temperatures, the price of the commodity is at 10 to 15 year lows.

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) is committed to representing the interests of natural gas customers and working to keep natural gas prices as low as possible. During the past decade, natural gas choice (e.g. the ability for customers to choose their natural gas supplier) has continued to expand. At the same time, three of the four major natural gas utilities, Dominion, Vectren and Columbia, asked the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio for approval to set their prices through an auction process. Increased choice and competition have both contributed to keeping natural gas bills affordable. However, as the number of options has increased, so has the need for natural gas consumers to better understand natural gas pricing and other issues related to purchasing natural gas.

The OCC offers consumers a number of fact sheets and other documents to help make informed choices about how and from whom to purchase their natural gas supply. Comparing Your Natural Gas Choices is updated weekly on OCC's website, www.pickocc.org to give customers a chance to compare the prices offered by the utilities with those of independent retail suppliers to determine the choice that best fits their individual needs. A number of additional fact sheets are available to answer frequently asked questions and provide information to increase customers' understanding of important natural gas issues.

The OCC offers tips on natural gas safety.

Natural Gas Choice Information

Duke Energy Ohio Rate Increase Information

Utility Assistance Information