Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

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Additional public hearings requested by OCC and consumer advocacy groups in Dominion East Ohio rate case

COLUMBUS, Ohio – July 10, 2008 – The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate, and other consumer advocacy groups today are filing a request with the Public Utilities Commission (PUCO) asking for additional public hearings on the proposed $75 million Dominion East Ohio rate increase.

Citing concerns on behalf of citizens who may not have access to the hearings due to the established time schedule, the OCC, along with concerned consumer groups such as the City of Cleveland, Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy, Neighborhood Environmental Coalition, Empowerment Center of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland Housing Network, and Consumers for Fair Utility Rates, is asking that additional, more convenient times and locations be scheduled so that customers affected by the proposed rate hike have a better opportunity to testify.

“Consumers should have every opportunity to express their thoughts about rate increases that will affect their household budgets,” said Janine Migden-Ostrander, Consumers’ Counsel. “Unfortunately, the schedule of public hearings adopted by the PUCO does not provide this.”

The OCC is encouraging customers of Dominion East Ohio to testify at local public hearings about the company’s proposed $75 million rate increase. Based on the OCC’s review and testimony filed at the PUCO, Dominion East Ohio does not need a revenue increase. The PUCO regulates investor-owned electric utilities and makes rate decisions. The OCC will attend the hearings and be available to answer residents’ questions.

Currently, the public hearings are scheduled as follows:

Youngstown: Monday, July 28, 2008, 2 p.m., Youngstown City Hall, 26 South Phelps Street

Lima: Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 1:30 p.m., Lima Municipal Center, City Council Chambers, 50 Town Square

Akron: Thursday, July 31, 2008, 1:30 p.m., Oliver R. Oscasek Government Center, 161 South High Street

Canton: Thursday, July 31, 2008, 7 p.m., Canton City Hall, 218 Cleveland Avenue

Cleveland: Monday, Aug. 4, 2008, 12:30 p.m., Frank J. Lausche State Office Building, 2nd floor auditorium, 615 West Superior Avenue

Geneva: Monday, Aug. 4, 2008, 7 p.m., City Hall Municipal Building, Council Chambers, 44 North Forest Street

Marietta: Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008, 1:30 p.m., Marietta College, McDonough Auditorium, 215 Fifth Street

“Consumers are encouraged to express their thoughts, particularly about the higher natural gas delivery rates proposed by Dominion East Ohio,” Migden-Ostrander added. “Decision makers need to hear from those who will be impacted by the higher bills.”

Sworn testimony provided by the public at the local hearings will become part of the official case and be considered as the PUCO Commissioners make a decision. Customers of Dominion East Ohio who wish to make their voices heard but cannot attend the local public hearings can also write letters expressing their opinion to the PUCO. All letters and envelopes should reference the case number and be sent to:

Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
Attn: Docketing Division
Case Number: 07-0829-GA-AIR
180 E. Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215

The cost of the flat-rate customer charge is a point of contention in the Dominion East Ohio rate case as it has been in similar cases filed by Ohio’s major natural gas utilities. Currently, customers pay $4.38 per month (Northwest Ohio) and $5.70 per month (Northeast Ohio) as a flat-rate customer charge. The PUCO staff is recommending raising this charge to $17.50 for all Dominion customers. The utility had only requested to set its customer charge at $5.70 per month for both service areas. The PUCO staff is recommending more than doubling Dominion East Ohio’s flat-rate customer charge while lowering the usage-based charge.

The OCC opposes raising the flat-rate customer charge because such a change in the rate structure would negatively impact consumers who attempt to conserve energy and result in lowuse customers subsidizing high-use customers.

“Loading more of Dominion’s costs into the fixed customer charge limits the ability for consumers to control their monthly bills by being more energy efficient,” said Migden- Ostrander. With customers’ budgets stretched thin, a higher flat-rate customer charge means customers would pay more than $17 per month regardless of how much natural gas is used.”

About the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate, represents the interests of 4.5 million households in proceedings before state and federal regulators and in the courts. The state agency also educates consumers about electric, natural gas, telephone and water issues and resolves complaints from individuals. To receive utility information, brochures, schedule a presentation or file a utility complaint, residential consumers may call 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622) toll free in Ohio or visit the OCC website at www.pickocc.org.