PUC to consider 12% rate reduction

Friday, Sept. 24, 1999 | 10:58 a.m.

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada will consider a $20.9 million rate reduction on natural gas supplied by Southwest Gas Corp.

The 12 percent reduction would result in an average monthly savings of $6 on a $50 bill for a residential customer. Southwest serves about 360,000 homes and businesses in the Las Vegas area.

The rate reduction reflects lower costs of gas to the company. Several companies supply Southwest Gas via two pipelines, one from the Four Corners region and one from Wyoming.

Southwest spokesman Roger Buehrer said the company applied for the reduction in June. The PUC's regulatory staff and the consumer advocate's office signed an agreement stipulating to the reduction and a hearing is scheduled Monday by Commissioner Michael Pitlock.

The full commission is expected to consider the plan in October and Southwest officials hope the reduction will become effective by Nov. 1.

Southwest is considering a 6.4 percent, $3.9 million rate reduction for Northern Nevada.

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