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Note 5 - Rates and Regulatory Matters

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Public Utilities Disclosure [Text Block]

5.	Rates and Regulatory Matters

The SCC exercises regulatory authority over the natural gas operations of Roanoke Gas. Such regulation encompasses terms, conditions and rates to be charged to customers for natural gas service, safety standards, service extension and depreciation.

On December 2, 2022, Roanoke Gas filed an application with the SCC seeking an $8.55 million annual increase in its non-gas base rates, of which $4.05 million was being recovered through the SAVE Rider. Since the Company was seeking to recover the costs associated with its SAVE Plan through interim non-gas base rates effective January 1, 2023, the Company discontinued its SAVE Plan and Rider for the remainder of fiscal 2023.

On December 21, 2022, the SCC issued its Order for Notice and Hearing, which authorized the Company to put its proposed rates into effect, on an interim basis and subject to refund, on January 1, 2023, and set the matter for hearing. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company reached a settlement with the SCC staff on all outstanding issues in the case. Under the terms of the settlement, the Company agreed to an incremental revenue requirement of $7.45 million. The Company agreed to begin billing the new rates effective October 1, 2023. The Commission issued its Final Order in the matter on December 19, 2023 in which it approved the settlement agreement in its entirety.

The Company has recorded a provision for customer refund, including interest, associated with billings for the difference between the interim rates and the settlement rates. The Company expects to complete the customer refund process with the February 2024 billing cycle.

In December 2023, the Company notified the SCC of its intent to file a general rate case. The Company filed the general rate application on February 2, 2024.

The Company filed an application with the SCC for a new, five-year SAVE Plan and Rider on March 31, 2023, seeking recovery of costs associated with an estimated $8.5 million in SAVE eligible investment in fiscal 2024 and an estimated cumulative investment of $49.5 million over the proposed five-year plan period ending September 30, 2028. On July 7, 2023, the SCC Staff filed its report on the Company’s SAVE Plan and Rider in which it recommended approval of the $49.5 million, five-year plan with a revenue requirement of approximately $366,000 beginning on October 1, 2023. On August 31, 2023, the SCC approved the new SAVE Plan and Rider with rates effective October 1, 2023.

On June 2, 2022, Roanoke Gas filed an application with the SCC to acquire certain natural gas distribution assets from a local housing authority. Under this application, the Company requested the approval to acquire such facilities at five separate apartment complexes, located in the Company’s service territory, that were under housing authority management. Under the proposed plan, the housing authority would renew existing natural gas distribution facilities to include mains, services, and meter installations and then transfer ownership of these facilities to Roanoke Gas. In turn, Roanoke Gas would assume responsibility for the operation and maintenance of these assets and recognize a gain related to the asset acquisition equal to the cost associated with the renewal.

On July 19, 2022, the SCC approved the application and on August 4, 2022, the housing authority transferred the assets from two apartment complexes to Roanoke Gas. Roanoke Gas recorded these assets and recognized a pre-tax gain of approximately $219,000 during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. On September 29, 2023, the housing authority transferred the assets from one additional apartment complex to Roanoke Gas and the Company recorded a pre-tax gain of approximately $311,000 during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The authority is awaiting future funding to complete the two remaining apartment complexes. The timing of funding and the completion of the asset renewals for these complexes is unknown at this time.