Dominion also wants to assume responsibility for the service lines that run from the curb to the customer’s meter. Customers currently own those service lines and are responsible for the cost of any needed repairs or replacement.
The total cost of the program is expected to exceed $2.6 billion in 2007. If approved, Dominion estimates that the additional cost to residential customers will be $1.12 per month beginning in November 2009. Thereafter there will reportedly be annual adjustments of no more than $0.90 per month. The program will result in approximately a 1% increase in annual bills. Under its proposal, Dominion will become responsible for installing new service lines and for repairing or replacing existing service lines if they are found to be leaking.
Dominion is asking the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to consolidate the pipeline infrastructure replacement program with the company’s current rate case application to give the PUCO and other parties an opportunity to consider the two filings together.
