ST. MARYS, OH (WLIO) - Residents of St. Marys could see major increases in their utility bills, and the city is taking action to prevent that.
At Tuesday night's St. Marys Council meeting, councilors and city administration passed an emergency resolution opposing planned rate increases by Dominion Energy Ohio and requesting the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio deny the proposals as well. Should Dominion implement the proposed rates, St. Marys residents could see a 30% rate increase for natural gas distribution as well as additional increases in fixed basic service and monthly distribution charges which are plans that do not sit well with Mayor Joe Hurlburt Jr.
"We, as a council and a community, are not in agreeance with a 30% rate hike. It be one thing if they came to us and said 'here's the reason why we're increasing the rates 30%.' You know, if they were doing infrastructure or things that are significant... we don't know what they're doing. We always have the citizens' concerns at heart when we make decisions like this. Again, 30% is very significant. What we're hoping is that, not only St. Marys, but other communities that are serviced by Dominion will say the same thing: 'It's too high,'" says Mayor Joseph Hurlburt Jr., City of St. Marys.
Mayor Hurlburt also adds that residents will not see changes in the near term, and that the city may pass additional resolutions in the future.
