Atmos Energy Corp. filed Friday with the Kansas Corpor?ation Commission for a $6 million increase in annual revenues for its Kansas natural gas utility operations.
Atmos Energy?s last rate case was filed in September 2007 and was based upon operating costs for 12 months ending March 31, 2007.
?It has been more than two years since our Kansas operation requested a rate increase,? said Bart Armstrong, operations vice president of Atmos Energy?s Kansas region.
?Since that time, we have experienced increases in our operating costs, and we have made a significant investment in plant that was not part of the utility?s recent Gas Safety and Reliability Surcharge filing.?
If approved, the average monthly bill for residential customers in Kansas will increase $4.18 per month, or 19 percent. For commercial customers, the average monthly bill will increase $8.01, or 11.6 percent.
?The proposed increase should allow Atmos Energy to establish new rates that will provide a reasonable return to attract the capital needed to make necessary additions, replacements and improvements to help ensure the safety and reliability of our distribution system in Kansas,? Armstrong said.
Atmos Energy serves about 128,000 natural gas customers in 106 communities in Kansas.
Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the country?s largest natural-gas-only distributor, serving more than 3 million natural gas distribution customers in more than 1,600 communities in 12 states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West.
