ONG seeking rate hike

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Oklahoma Natural Gas has proposed a residential rate increase that could up bills by a $1.40 a month. <br><br>That average cost would last up to 18 months. <br><br>The increase is

Saturday, January 3rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Oklahoma Natural Gas has proposed a residential rate increase that could up bills by a $1.40 a month.

That average cost would last up to 18 months.

The increase is about $10-million less than what ONG asked for in October. The new request totals $26.4-million.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is expected to consider the rate hike this month.

The extra money would repay ONG for inspecting and maintaining customer service lines since 2000. Before then, customers took care of the lines on their own.

The rest of the money would pay for ongoing line maintenance, natural gas storage costs and future bad debts from customers who don't pay.