State Corporation Commission grants ONG a rate increase

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma Corporation Commission grants a $57.5-million rate increase request by Oklahoma Natural Gas.<br/><br/>Commission Chairman Jeff Cloud said Tuesday that all parties had

Wednesday, October 5th 2005, 5:26 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma Corporation Commission grants a $57.5-million rate increase request by Oklahoma Natural Gas.

Commission Chairman Jeff Cloud said Tuesday that all parties had reached a fair, just and reasonable settlement after a long process.

ONG implemented new rates in July after commission staff members' recommended that the utility be granted a $58-million rate increase.

The new rates were allowed to go into effect 180 days after ONG filed its rate increase request in January, even though the commission had not yet made a final decision.

ONG estimates the average residential customer's bill went up by $5.75 a month due to the increase.

The company had originally sought a $99.4-million rate increase, but the commission's administrative law judge and the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office disagreed with some of the expenditures contained in the company's request.