Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper and Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. (“Piedmont”) have reached an agreement that reduces Piedmont’s pending request for a rate increase by almost 30%, saving Tennessee ratepayers $4.8 million. The agreement was approved at a hearing today by the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (“TRA”). In September of 2011, Piedmont asked the TRA to approve a general rate increase of $16.7 million. This request was Piedmont’s first such request since 2003 and was a proposed increase to the rates Piedmont charges its customers for the delivery of natural gas.

The Attorney General’s Consumer Advocate and Protection Division intervened on behalf of ratepayers and reviewed the supporting materials submitted by Piedmont as well as additional financial information it obtained from Piedmont related to the request. The Attorney General’s Office subsequently filed testimony and other documents indicating Piedmont was due, after 8 years, a rate increase of no more than $9.9 million, or more than 40% less than Piedmont’s request. After negotiations, the Attorney General and Piedmont agreed on an increase of $11.9 million or almost 30% less than Piedmont’s original request...read the Piedmont press release.

Tennesseans will have an opportunity to comment on a proposed water rate increase by the Tennessee American Water Company (TAWC) during a Tennessee Regulatory Agency (TRA) hearing in Chattanooga on Monday, Feb. 28.

The Consumer Advocate with the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office has intervened in this case in which TAWC is seeking an approximately $11.6 million increase in rates. This Office has pre-filed testimony of numerous experts supporting the need for no more than an approximate $1 million rate increase for Chattanooga residents. This makes the fifth time in eight years that the TAWC has filed a request to increase rates with the TRA. In Tennessee, the monopoly has about 74,500 customers in Chattanooga and Hamilton County. They also have customers in Cleveland and Bradley County...read the TAWC press release.

Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper and Atmos Energy Corporation (Atmos) have reached an agreement ultimately saving home and business ratepayers $4.9 million.

The Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) unanimously approved the agreement. Atmos is a public utility offering natural gas service to 129,000 consumers in several Tennessee counties. The counties affected are Bedford, Blount, Carter, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Maury, Moore, Obion, Rutherford, Sullivan, Washington and Williamson.

Atmos asked the TRA for a rate increase, which was later amended to total $7.3 million for the delivery of natural gas to its customers. Under the terms of the agreement, the rate increase is reduced to $2.5 million for an overall increase of 4.9%. However, a portion of the overall 4.9% increase is temporary and will expire in 30 months...read the Atmos Energy press release.