Latest news with #HopeGas
National Post
24-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Hope Gas and WATT Fuel Cell Launch Innovative WATT HOME™ Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Backup Power Leasing Program to Strengthen Grid Resiliency Across West Virginia
Article content Program Committed to Initially Deploy 7,250 Units Over Three Years, Marking the Largest Residential Fuel Cell Initiative in the Country Article content MORGANTOWN, — In a major step forward for distributed energy solutions in Appalachia, WATT Fuel Cell Corp and Hope Gas proudly announce the launch of a groundbreaking exclusive Hope Gas customer program for the WATT HOME fuel cell system. This strategic partnership will initially make over 7,250 next-generation backup power configured fuel cell units exclusively available to Hope Gas residential customers across West Virginia over the next three years, directly addressing the state's pressing need for reliable, resilient power utilizing the state's plentiful and reliable natural gas. Article content Article content Electric power outages are more than an inconvenience. For families and businesses, they can disrupt everyday life. West Virginia experiences among the most challenging electric reliability in the country according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Electric Power Industry Report. The state sees some of the most frequent power outages and longest blackout times in the country. Hope Gas customers in West Virginia will have access to cutting-edge WATT Fuel Cell technology to provide back-up power to their homes starting in 2026. Article content The innovative program exclusively offers Hope Gas customers access to the WATT HOME system—an advanced solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology that operates efficiently on readily available natural gas. Designed for residential use, WATT HOME provides dependable, low-emission electricity even when the power grid is down. Article content 'Hope Gas is excited to partner with WATT to bring this innovative fuel cell technology to the families we serve in West Virginia,' said Morgan O'Brien, chief executive officer of Hope Gas. 'Hope has thousands of miles of existing natural gas distribution infrastructure throughout the Mountain State that reliably delivers natural gas to the homes we serve even when the electric power is out. The WATT HOME systems available through this partnership will create back-up power for homes using natural gas when there is an electric outage. Hope Gas is constantly exploring innovative ways to provide cutting-edge solutions to our customers and communities. Leasing this technology will avoid any up-front capital outlay for Hope customers. This partnership with WATT is revolutionizing utility service reliability for our customers.' Article content The deployment of 7,250 WATT HOME systems marks the largest residential fuel cell initiative in the country. It also highlights West Virginia's leadership in modern energy innovation, with the potential to serve as a national model for partnerships that solve local infrastructure challenges with distributed energy resources. Article content 'This partnership between Hope Gas and WATT Fuel Cell represents a powerful shift in how we think about residential energy,' said Caine Finnerty, CEO of WATT Fuel Cell. 'By combining our scalable, innovative technology with the trusted service of Hope Gas, we're empowering West Virginians to take greater control of their energy future.' Article content The leasing model ensures affordability and ease of adoption, giving Hope Gas customers a no-hassle option for energy independence without large upfront capital investments. The program is expected to be especially impactful as grid vulnerability continues to grow with increased extreme weather events and longer duration outages. Article content 'Hope Gas is committed to innovation that serves our customers and strengthens West Virginia,' said O'Brien. 'The WATT HOME system gives our customers access to cutting-edge energy technology that supports their homes, their safety, and the state's long-term energy resilience.' Key highlights: Article content Access to WATT's fuel cells: WATT Fuel Cell will lease 7,250 WATT HOME systems configured to provide homes with backup power to Hope Gas residential customers. Leases will be available starting in 2026 for 750 systems. An additional 2500 systems will be available in 2027, and 4000 more systems will be available in 2028. Article content Lease information: There will be no upfront costs to customers when entering the lease for the WATT HOME system. Each lease term will be 10 years. The monthly lease fees will be added to the customer's Hope Gas bill. At the end of the lease term, customers may extend the lease or return the system. Article content Installation & Maintenance: Hope Gas will provide installation and maintenance support for each system for the length of the lease. Installation and maintenance are included in the lease and will not result in additional costs. Article content About Hope Gas Article content : Hope Gas is a Local Distribution Company (LDC) that proudly provides gas service to approximately 140,000 residential, industrial, and commercial customers in thirty-eight West Virginia counties. We monitor and maintain over 7000 miles of pipelines that safely deliver West Virginia natural gas to many homes and commercial and industrial sites. We currently employ nearly 600 employees working right here in our beautiful Mountain State with the sole purpose of staying true to our company's mission and vision in West Virginia. Learn more at Article content About Hope Utilities Article content : Hope Utilities owns natural gas and water distribution utilities across eight states. We provide service to more than 200,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the communities we serve. We currently operate natural gas utilities in West Virginia, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, and Ohio; and water and wastewater utilities in Arizona, Michigan, and Texas. Hope's growth strategy is built on being a trusted member of the communities we serve, providing our customers with safe, reliable, and cost-effective utility service. Learn more about Hope at Article content ) is a manufacturer and developer of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell ('SOFC') stacks and systems that operate on common, readily available fuels such as propane and natural gas. WATT's proprietary, patented additive manufacturing process (AMP) has allowed it to produce commercially viable SOFC products for small-scale and remote power applications. WATT's Hybrid Power Management system works in tandem with renewable power sources (solar and wind) and energy storage to provide quiet, efficient, affordable, and environmentally responsible energy solutions prioritizing a return on investment for customers across the globe. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contacts: Article content Hope Gas Article content Article content Erin O'Donnell Article content Article content Article content Article content 847-738-3118 Article content Article content Article content
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Stories of the Week: May 18 through May 24
CLARKSBURG, – Here are some of the top stories this week on the WBOY 12News Facebook page. West Virginia has submitted a request for a waiver to remove soft drinks from its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program offerings. The West Virginia Public Service Commission suspended any rate increase for Hope Gas until next year. Notre Dame High School and St. Mary's Grade School received a $3.33 million donation from a late Clarksburg resident. A Webster County student will march in the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. A Harrison County woman got to go on a motorcycle ride for her 90th birthday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
West Virginia residents protest proposed 25% Hope Gas rate hike
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — Hope Gas customers across multiple counties in West Virginia received notice of a proposed rate increase that will take effect on May 30, and at least 95 letters of protest have been filed by residents. The proposed 40.95% overall increase includes a 25.41% increase for residential Hope Gas customers, a 35.42% increase for Peoples Gas residential customers, and even higher increases for some commercial customers, according to the letter. The increase will cause the average residential Hope Gas customer to pay about $21 more per month and the average Peoples Gas customer to pay $27 more per month, unless the proposal is denied by the Public Service Commission (PSC) of West Virginia. The proposed increase affects Hope Gas customers in Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monongalia, Nicholas, Pleasants, Preston, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Wirt, Wetzel, Wood and Wyoming counties. Things to keep in mind if you have Memorial Day travel plans According to documents on the PSC's website, 95 letters of protest have been filed in the case. Many of the letters are from residents who say that the rate increase will be a financial burden for customers. The Producers Issues Committee of the Gas and Oil Association of WV and the Consumer Advocate Division have both filed petitions to intervene in the case. The case is now with the PSC, with a suspension order due by May 29. In October of 2024, an about approximately 6% rate increase for Hope Gas was approved by the PSC. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Dominion Post
02-05-2025
- Business
- Dominion Post
Hope Gas files rate hike proposal with Public Service Commission
dbeard@ MORGANTOWN – Hope Gas filed with the Public Service Commission this week to increase its base rates. This is its first base rate case since 2020. Hope said in its April 30 announcement of the case that the impact will vary depending on whether the customer was already served by Hope or by one of the six companies it acquired in 2023 and 2024. The proposed monthly rate increase would range from $21.10 to $33.74. The PSC has 300 days to review the request and Hope projects the effective date for the new rates would be Feb. 25, 2026. Base rate cases cover a company's operational costs, not the costs of the gas it purchases to distribute to customers – which is handled in separate cases. Hope notes several factors included in its proposal: inflation since 2019; align the base rates for all Hope customers including recently acquired customers; investments in the safety and reliability of pipeline infrastructure; balance the costs appropriately between producers and customers based on the cost to serve those customer classes; creating a pilot program to provide bill payment assistance to eligible low-income families; creating a weather normalization mechanism that will adjust customer bills due to variations from normal weather. Hope said the proposed new rates will produce an additional $79.6 million in operating revenue. It has chosen to exclude an additional $7.5 million in revenue for costs from IT, its Pipeline Replacement and Expansion Program, and certain facilities. Here are Hope's proposed rate increases for the average monthly bill for various residential customers (actual increases would vary): existing Hope Gas, $21.10 (25.41%); former Peoples Gas, $27.17 (35.42%); former Southern Public Service, $33.74 (60.77%); former Standard/Bazzle, $28.46 (40.39%); former Consumers Gas, $22.25 (33.61%). Hope didn't include a projected change for 60 customers formerly serve by Hometown Gas. Hope consultant Melanie K. Popovich explained the proposed low-income discount program to the PSC. She said Hope serves 126,906 residential customers in 39 counties in West Virginia. Of those residential customers, 21,961 are estimated to be low-income households. The counties with the highest number of estimated low-income households are Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, and Wood. She said Hope is proposing a two-year pilot program limited to 2,500 qualifying low-income customers who would be offered a monthly bill discount of 25%. For example, if a qualifying customer has a monthly bill of $200, Hope would reduce it by $50 to $150. Jo Carol Farmer, Hope's senior vice president for Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations, said, 'While inflation has increased costs across the board, Hope remains committed to providing natural gas service at the greatest value possible for the homes and businesses we serve and to continue investing in the future of the Mountain State. … 'We understand the impact price increases have on families and businesses. Many of these same increases have impacted our business over the past five years. We have done all we can to minimize the amount of this request while ensuring we can continue to provide the safe, reliable natural gas service necessary for our customers today and maintain the infrastructure needed for the state's future.'
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hope Gas asks PSC to put its abandonment cases on hold
Apr. 3—MORGANTOWN — Hope Gas has asked the state Public Service Commission to put on hold its proceedings to abandon its Red Lines pipeline system spanning 22 counties and convert its customers along those lines from natural gas to propane or electricity. Although Hope announced in January it had an agreement for Diversified Midstream to acquire the lines, Hope stated in its Wednesday filing the deal hasn't been finalized. Oil and gas producers along the line have raised concerns that without that access, there would be no way to move gas out of that area. Also, Hope plans to file a new base-rate case on April 30, and some producers want to see that in order to consider their interests in the cases. The farm tap and the abandonment cases were originally separate, and then briefly consolidated and separated again. "Hope believes it is in the best interest of all parties and Hope's customers that these proceedings be held in abeyance at this time, " Hope said. On Feb. 21, the PSC ruled that Hope Gas may convert about 479 farm-tap customers to propane or electricity, contingent on the PSC also permitting Hope to abandon its Red Lines. Hope has contended that the per-customer cost of maintaining those natural gas connections has become too costly. Producers along the lines have told the PSC of their concerns about their ongoing ability to transport their gas if Diversified acquires the lines, and raised questions about future maintenance of the lines. In a statement, Hope commented on Wednesday, "Some of the issues raised in these proceedings have been contentious, and some preliminary settlement discussions have also occurred." Hope said that it believed customers might benefit from the conclusion of these cases when it filed its new base-rate case, but that won't happen while the proceedings remain pending and contested. Hope is asking the PSC to issue an order as soon as possible on its request to put the Red Line proceedings on hold, until Hope files to once again continue them. In the meantime, it is canceling planned town hall meetings to speak with farm-tap customers along the lines. Hope proposed in filings last August and October to abandon the Red Lines, about 1, 069 miles, because they are no longer necessary or useful and that providing safe, reliable, economic service to the farm-tap customers along those lines is in jeopardy because existing service is either unsafe, unreliable, uneconomical, or any combination of the three. If the deal with Diversified goes through, Hope has said, it would still proceed with its plans to convert the farm tap customers to propane, or electricity provided by an electric utility if they prefer, at its own expense. While propane is more expensive, it would charge those customers its lower natural gas rate.
