Columbia Gas plans local line work, riser repair

By BECKY BROOKS

Enterprise Editor

clydenews@bizwoh.rr.com

Columbia Gas of Ohio will invest nearly $650,000 in natural gas lines and infrastructure in Clyde over the next three years, according to Chris Kozak, communications and community manager for Columbia Gas.

While Kozak visited the Clyde City Manager and The Clyde Enterprise office last week, he said he and an associate will return on July 22 to meet with the Clyde City Council.

Kozak made four major points during last week's visit.

*Columbia Gas of Ohio is seeking a base rate increase with the Public Utilities of Ohio.

*It will also invest statewide $1.8 million to upgrade natural gas pipelines in the state, including several lines in Clyde.

*In 2009, Columbia Gas of Ohio will begin a $450,000 project to replace 320,000 prone-to-fail gas risers at a cost of $160 million, including hundreds in Clyde.

*Columbia Gas of Ohio is now responsible for customer service lines to the meter of a home or business.

Kozak said the case that went before the PUCO is the first rate increase on transmission costs in about 14 years.

He added, "It reflects about a 5 percent increase in average bill."

Columbia Gas of Ohio is slated to invest its increase in the transmission system in Ohio, according to a press release. Locally that will include spending $650,000 in the natural gas infrastructure in Clyde in the next three years - just to replace 898 prone-to-fail risers.

On its pipeline improvement program, over the next 25 years it will invest $70 million annually for a $1.8 billion investment.

That will include a $200,000 investment in three Clyde projects.

Those project are 2,500 feet of main on Buckeye Street, which is now under construction; 200 feet of main on Spring Avenue; and 1,600 feet of main on Nathan Drive, according to a press release.

In addition, as of April, Columbia Gas of Ohio is now responsible for the maintenance of lines to the gas meter, following a decision from the PUCO. It's customer service line plan provides a 24-hour customer service line in case of a hazardous leak.

Then beginning in 2009, the gas utility will be adding an energy efficiency program to aid customers in reducing natural gas consumption by 0.75 to 1 percent by 2011.

Kozak said there are easy steps initially for saving energy such as weatherizing all windows in a home and installing programmable timers on the furnace. By dropping even a few degrees over 8 hours, a home owner can save 10 percent on their heating bill, he pointed out.