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Your monthly National Fuel bill may cost more

Posted at 2:41 PM, Apr 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-28 15:19:33-04

Your monthly gas bill may cost you more beginning next April.

For the first time since 2007, National Fuel is requesting the State Public Service Commission increase the utility base rate by $5.75 per month. The company says it needs the funds to invest in upgrades to its pipeline delivery system.

Since the last rate increase nine years ago, National Fuel has invested more than $300 million infrastructure improvements. The company would continue improvements and also use the additional money to expand gas service and improve low-income assistance programs.

National Fuel argues current bills are at historic lows and the increase is “well below inflation rates over the past decade.”

The increase would affect 527,000 customers in 14 western New York counties but first has to be approved by the Commission.