Atmos files for 24% increase

Company says it does not profit on cost of gas
RBC — Atmos Energy Corporation said it has filed with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (COPUC) for a gas cost adjustment to reflect an increase in the cost of natural gas it is buying for its northwest/central Colorado customers.
If approved by the commission, this increase will take effect June 1 and will increase the current residential gas commodity and commercial gas commodity rate 23 percent. The residential commodity rate will rise from 83 cents per hundred cubic feet (ccf) to a $1.02 per ccf and the commercial commodity rate will rise from 81 cents per ccf to 99 cents per ccf.
Atmos Energy officials said this increase comes about because the wholesale price of natural gas has increased and projections indicate it will continue to increase through the summer into the winter season.
“Atmos Energy does not make a profit on the cost of natural gas,” said Gary Schlessman, president of Atmos Energy Colorado-Kansas Division. “Our customers are charged, penny-for-penny, the same price for natural gas that we are charged.”
The utility earns its income from fees for delivering natural gas to customers and for maintaining its utility distribution system. The rates charged for delivering natural gas to customers are regulated by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.
Atmos Energy encourages residential customers to sign up for its budget billing program to help even out their natural gas bills and to take as many conservation measures as possible to reduce natural gas consumption.
“It only takes a few minutes to sign up for budget billing. Customers can call our toll-free number at 1-888-286-6700, 24 hours a day, seven days a week or they can enroll on our Web site at www.atmosenergy.com,” says Kevin Kerrigan, Atmos Energy manager of public affairs in Colorado.