A. On Feb. 3, 2023, Peoples Gas filed its formal notification with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) that we will be requesting to raise base rates. This notification is the first step in a regulatory process that takes many months. We will file details of our proposed rate increase with the PSC in April. The PSC is expected to hold hearings and to vote on the rate request before the end of the year. If approved, new rates would likely take effect Jan. 1, 2024.

A. The decision to raise rates is not an easy one for us. There is never a good time for it, and we know rising prices are affecting everyone. While we have managed our business prudently, Florida’s population growth has been remarkable, resulting in more new home and commercial construction, more businesses, stores and restaurants, new and expanded infrastructure including roadways, and more electricity generation fueled by natural gas.

• Peoples Gas must invest in new – and upgrade existing – infrastructure to serve this growth, as well as hire people to operate and maintain the expanding system.
• Like other businesses, Peoples Gas has been impacted by higher-than-expected inflation, labor market challenges, supply chain disruptions and higher capital costs.

A. If approved, we anticipate that the new rates would be effective Jan. 1, 2024. The increase will affect our rate classes differently and we are evaluating those impacts. We will be able to share the details in April.

A. In the past 15 years, we have raised base rates only once – in January 2021. Since then, we’ve:

• Added approximately 40,000 (ten percent increase) and approximately 1,500 (four percent increase) new residential and commercial customers, respectively.
• Added approximately 1,200 miles of main and service lines to serve growth.
• Invested in critical technology to better manage and streamline our operations and enhance customer service.
• Deployed new technology, such as GPS, barcoding and MobileGuard, to operate and maintain our gas distribution system more efficiently.
• Invested in the safety of the public, our system and our people by striving to manage damages caused by construction activity around the state.
• Helped residential and commercial customers save more than 1.7 million therms of natural gas through conservation programs.
• Connected nearly 21,000 residential customers to ways to save energy through our free online energy audit.
• Continued to lead the nation in customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power studies.

A. We partner with non-profit organizations who provide assistance to those needing help. Should you need assistance, we offer programs to support our residential and business customers as well as flexible payment arrangements for residential and business customers. We also provide opportunities for our customers to qualify for cash-back rebates through our residential and business conservation programs.

A. Our free online energy audit helps our residential customers manage their energy usage and spend. A variety of appliance calculators also are available to help customers pinpoint opportunities for savings. If you’re thinking of replacing or upgrading with more energy-efficient appliances, we offer cash-back rebates for residential and commercial customers.

A. Base rates are part of the “Customer Charge” and the “Distribution Charge” line items on a customer’s bill.

• Base rates make up about half of a total bill and cover the costs of the pipes, maintenance and customer service to get natural gas to its point of use, but not the cost of the gas itself.
• The other half is made up of charges passed through from natural gas suppliers and municipalities to our customers with no markup or profit to Peoples Gas.

A. Unlike retail stores, regulated utilities must go through a formal process to change the amount they charge their customers. The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) regulates utilities, including ensuring fair and reasonable rates for customers. The PSC has final say on the amount Peoples Gas can charge customers. Several factors are considered, including the company’s prudent costs to provide safe and reliable service along with providing a reasonable return on its capital investment.

A. As the company has grown, Peoples Gas consistently provides our customers with a superior customer experience. 2022 was the 10^th consecutive year we ranked highest in the south midsize segment of the J.D. Power Gas Utility residential customer study, and the fourth year in a row and sixth time since 2016 that we were highest in the south segment of the business study. Our scores in both studies were the highest in the nation and we continue to lead the nation for satisfaction in the price category of the studies.