Summit Utilities to Raise Gas Rates for Arkansas Customers Starting in December
Customers of Summit Utilities will see a hike in their natural gas bills starting in December following the approval of a rate increase by state regulators on November 21.
The Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC) has approved a 23.4 percent increase for residential customers, which will impact around 415,000 Arkansas households. While Summit initially requested a 30 percent increase, the APSC granted a smaller rate hike. On average, customers can expect to see an increase of approximately $15 per month on their gas bills.
However, the APSC has also required Summit to provide temporary relief during the winter months. From December 2024 through April 2025, the company will lower the cost of winter gas by 17 percent, effectively reducing the rate hike by about half for those months.
Projected average winter bills are as follows:
- December 2024: $134.46
- January 2025: $174.06
- February 2025: $164.14
- March 2025: $127.32
The rate increase will affect several cities in the local area, including Nashville, Murfreesboro, Mineral Springs, Dierks, Delight, Prescott, Ashdown, DeQueen, Glenwood, Horatio, Tollette, Hope, Amity, and others.
After the winter relief period, customers will face an additional average increase of $4.37, which will take effect in April. The APSC pushed this portion of the rate increase to spring to help customers manage higher utility bills during the colder months.
Summit Utilities said the rate hike is necessary to cover costs associated with the company’s purchase of CenterPoint Energy’s operations in 2021, as well as to address the need for upgrading aging infrastructure and meeting higher safety standards.
“We appreciate the hard work of Attorney General Tim Griffin, APSC general staff, Arkansas Gas Consumers, Inc., and the Hospitals and Higher Education Group, who represented the interests of Arkansas customers,” said Fred Kirkwood, Summit’s chief customer experience officer. “These new rates will allow us to continue delivering the safe and reliable natural gas our customers rely on.”
While initially supporting the rate increase, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin reversed his stance and said that the final negotiated rate hike represents a more favorable outcome for Arkansas ratepayers.
