Case Details

- Case Details:

Case Number:

2016-00147

Case Status:

Closed

Utility/Industry Type :

Gas

Utility/Industry Subtype :

Local Distribution Companies (LDCs)

Case Type :

REQUEST FOR APPROVAL

Case Subtype :

COST OF GAS FILINGS

Pertaining to Utility/Company :

SUMMIT NATURAL GAS OF MAINE, INC

Case Title :

REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF COST OF GAS FILINGS PERTAINING TO SUMMIT NATURAL GAS OF MAINE, INC.

Initiating Filer :

SUMMIT NATURAL GAS OF MAINE, INC

Case Start Date :

7/14/2016

Assigned Staff :

Beverly.Shejen,
Denis.Bergeron,
Faith.Huntington,
Leslie.Raber,
Lucretia.Smith,
Mitchell.Tannenbaum,
Carol.MacLennan,
Christine.R.Cook

View Case References

Filings (28) Data Requests (4)Public Comments (9) Active Party and Notification List (5) Assigned Staff (8)

Item No.	Date Filed	Description Of Filing	Filing Party	Filed By	No of Attachments	Deleted Filings
28	7/18/2018	Notice of Related Proceeding, Opportunity to Intervene, and Schedule, DN 2018-00184 Annual Cost of Gas	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	1
27	7/11/2017	Protective Order No. 1 - Submitted in Error - Refile	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	1	Deleted by PUC
26	2/27/2017	ORDER APPROVING STIPULATION	COMMISSION, MPUC	COMMISSION, MPUC	3
25	2/6/2017	Stipulation regarding Follow On Issues	SUMMIT NATURAL GAS OF MAINE, INC	Moser Esq., N. Joel	4
24	2/1/2017	Summit Natural Gas of Maine, Inc.'s Interim Report	SUMMIT NATURAL GAS OF MAINE, INC	Moser Esq., N. Joel	4
23	1/10/2017	Transcript 1-10-17	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	2
22	12/15/2016	Procedural Order -- Schedule (Corrected)	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	1
21	12/14/2016	Procedural Order (Scheduling)	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	1	Deleted by PUC
20	12/1/2016	Summit Natural Gas of Maine, Inc.'s Response to the 10/31/16 Procedural Order	SUMMIT NATURAL GAS OF MAINE, INC	Moser Esq., N. Joel	6
19	11/9/2016	PROCEDURAL ORDER	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	1

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DR Set ID	Set Description	Issue Date	No. of DR Questions	Propounded Upon	View Questions in Set
EXM-001	Initial Examiner Data Requests	8/22/2016	6	SUMMIT NATURAL GAS OF MAINE, INC	View Questions
EXM-002	Follow-up to ODR-001-001	9/16/2016	1	SUMMIT NATURAL GAS OF MAINE, INC	View Questions
ODR-001	Oral Data Requests from September 8, 2016 Technical Conference	9/9/2016	12	SUMMIT NATURAL GAS OF MAINE, INC	View Questions
OPA-001	OPA 1	8/25/2016	4	SUMMIT NATURAL GAS OF MAINE, INC	View Questions

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Posted By	Posted Date	Comments	Attachment(s)
Stacia Fowler 4 Beech Street Email ID: stacifowler@gmail.com Phone No.: 207-446-1889	9/12/2016	The notice about the HUGE increase proposed by Summit is both surprising and disheartening. We signed up based on their claims that prices would be stable and low. Of course, we did this at a time that oil was high, so this was a reasonable choice. When oil prices went down, we were still pleased with our choice because it still had benefits. Now, with the price of oil still low, Summit wants to raise the price 250%?? That doesn't make any sense on any level. I can't imagine, with the price of oil/gas still low that an increase like this is warranted, which leads me to believe one of two things, 1. We are being penalized for the fact that they have had to do more work on the lines that were not done right in the first place because of their hurry to get things hooked up or 2. We have been caught up in a bait and switch. I certainly understand an increase when it is warranted and respect their need to be profitable, however, at this point, when I look at the current price of the product, an increase doesn't seem like anything more than their desire to recoup some of the money for their own errors and/or lack of research into the issues around installation in Central Maine, neither of those things are the fault of the customer and those charges should not be relayed to the customer, certainly not at a 250% increase. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Anne Hyland 3 Town Landing' Falmouth, ME 04105 Email ID: ahyland@maine.rr.com Phone No.: 207-781-5008	9/9/2016	I think its outrageous the price increases on Natural gas. I should have stayed with oil! Every time I turn around the price is increased. Is there anything we can do about this? Anne Hyland
Wendy Suzanne Emerson 8 Leighton St Waterville, ME04901 Email ID:wendy.suzanne@gmail.com Phone No. :571-201-5341	9/9/2016	I share the concerns expressed by others that this rate increase is too much, too soon. I moved to Maine from Massachusetts, where I was also a natural gas consumer, and so I know that Summit's current rate of .263 per therm is probably unsustainable low. However, to almost the triple the rate deserves careful scrutiny. Customers have less than 30 days warning and the rate hike will take effect right at the beginning of heating season! - The burden of proof must be placed on Summit to prove that this rate increase is truly necessary. At least with propane and oil, you have fluctuating prices that let you take advantage of when prices are low. By contrast, this will fix the price of gas for the next year. According to Summit's web site, I used approximately 1000 therms between Au 19, 2015 and Aug 17, 2016. That's a cost of gas of $263. Under this new rate, 1000 therms will cost $664. That's an approximate increase of $33 a month. It might not seem like a lot of money, but for families already stretched thin, it adds up fast. This also doesn't take into account the delivery prices and other service fees that Summit has the ability to raise. We also had an unusually mild winter from 2015 - 2016, so total therms was likely much lower than we will see this next year. I urge the commission to think very carefully about this increase.
Allen Browne M.D. 25 Andrews Ave Falmouth, ME04105 Email ID:allenbrowne@sbcglobal.net Phone No. :207-650-0349	9/9/2016	This rate increase is hard to understand. We were led to believe the original rate was reasonable and would then vary reasonably. An increase of over 200% is hard to understand given the cost of natural gas, etc over that period. I hope there will be transparency as to why the increase and where this money is going. I encourage the commission to carefully consider whether this should be approved.
Butler Carmichael Falmouth, ME Email ID:bcarmi1023@gmail.com	9/9/2016	I just read the 2016 Modified Cost of Gas Adjustment Customer Notification and am shocked by the proposed 250% increase. As a benefit to choosing Natural Gas, Summit markets keeping prices stable, "No buying in advance, no surprise pricing - just stable prices and quality service you can count on." Implied in that statement is stability within the season as well as year over year. I urge The Commission to look closely at this increase and approve only as deemed appropriate. From a consumer perspective, this proposed rate does not align with historic annual increases and for those of us who trusted the lower heating cost promise, we are now being blindsided with this increase. This should be considered in The Commission's analysis of Summit's overall service quality to the customer.
Andrew Stern Email ID:andrew.stern@rbc.com	9/9/2016	I would be interested to know what is thier justification for such a significant price hike. The price of the physical commodity has not moved more than 5% point to point since this time last year. In fact prices over the last 12 months have been lower on average thereby allowing the company to secure lower prices at a lower cost in the futures market. I won't go so far as to say this is a scam but it certainly smells of an anti-competitive practice do to the nature of the captive audience and the fixed trasmission cost. As a customer who only uses the gas for cooking and as an auxiliary heat source, a price hike is less significant to me but would certainly deter me from considering natural gas as a primary heat source in the future. While, I am sure the rate change is not arbitrary, additional transparency is needed for the consumer to understand the proposed changes.
Tony Brodie Gardiner, ME04345 Email ID:mpuc@theflibbles.com	9/8/2016	Now that new customers have slowed to a trickle and many have converted fully to natural gas, Summit want to increase the price 250%??? This is an insanely high price increase and cannot be considered anything other than a giant scam. How on earth can a price increase this high be justified? If it's an attempt to recoup costs incurred fixing the issues cause by sub-par contractors when originally installed (which literally cost them millions), this is Summit's problem and NOT the consumers. To allow this massive price hike to go through would not just be an injustice but would reek of corruption.
Sakhi Khan 13 Forest Park Waterville, ME 04901 Email ID: skhan@colby.edu Phone No.: 207-692-3746	9/8/2016	I just received an email stating the proposed rate increase for natural gas. The proposed rate hike is a 250% increase!! This is ridiculous to say the least. I feel I've been set up for this. The price to convert and gas prices at the time were manipulating into changing. Now you hit us with a 250% increase! These are terrible business tactics to say the least.
Rachel Cooney 38 Hillside Ave, Falmouth	9/8/2016	I own a single family home on Chester Ave, Falmouth. We converted our utilities in good faith with the expectation that natural gas is cleaner, more efficient and at an affordable cost. A 250% increase in the rate is outrageous. I don't know how this could even be remotely considered, it feels very much like "bait and switch". I recommend that the PUC does not approve this rate increase as written.

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Notification List Active Party List

Name of Person/Company	Representing Company	Mailing Address	Email/Phone/Fax
Lesko, Amy		PO Box 1058 45 Memorial Circle Augusta ME 04332	Email ID: alesko@preti.com Phone Ph: 207-623-5300 Extn: 3195 Fax: Fax: 207-623-2914
Libby, Marcia A		PO Box 9729 Portland ME 04104 5029	Email ID: mlibby@bernsteinshur.com Phone Ph: 207-228-7346 Fax:
Mace, Gina		10825 E Geddes Ave Suite 410 Centennial CO 80112	Email ID: gmace@summitutilities.com Phone Ph: 816-349-8222 Fax:
Moser Esq., N. Joel	SUMMIT NATURAL GAS OF MAINE, INC	100 Middle Street P.O. Box 9729 Portland ME 04101	Email ID: jmoser@bernsteinshur.com Phone Ph: 207-228-7155 Fax: Fax: 207-774-1127
Rosenkranz, John	OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE		Email ID: jrosenkranz@verizon.net Phone Ph: 617-755-3622 Fax:

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Staff Name	Role
Bergeron, Denis	Staff Analyst
Cook, Christine	Staff Analyst
Huntington, Faith	Staff Analyst
MacLennan, Carol	Staff Analyst
Raber, Leslie	Hearing Examiner
Shejen, Beverly	Support Staff
Smith, Lucretia	Staff Analyst
Tannenbaum, Mitchell	Staff Analyst

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