PUCO accepts results of Columbia Gas of Ohio's natural gas supply auction

COLUMBUS, OHIO (Jan. 24, 2024) – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today accepted the results of Columbia Gas of Ohio’s auction for its standard choice offer (SCO). The auction secured natural gas supplies for Columbia’s customers from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025 and established a retail price adjustment of $0.166 per hundred cubic feet (ccf). This year’s retail price adjustment is $0.014 less than the 2023 retail price adjustment.

Columbia’s SCO rate changes monthly and is calculated as the sum of the retail price adjustment, plus the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) month-end settlement price. The price adjustment reflects the winning bidders’ estimate of their cost to deliver natural gas from production areas to Columbia’s service area.

The SCO will apply to Columbia’s choice-eligible customers that have not selected an alternative supplier. Choice-eligible customers will continue to have the option to enroll with an energy choice supplier of their choosing, join a government aggregation buying group or remain on the SCO. Customers who are interested in choosing an energy choice supplier can compare rate offers by visiting the PUCO’s Energy Choice Ohio website at www.energychoice.ohio.gov.

Each SCO customer’s bill will indicate the certified retail natural gas supplier that is responsible for providing the customer’s natural gas. Columbia will continue to deliver natural gas to all customers, offer payment plans and handle all emergency and customer service calls. Government aggregation customers and those already enrolled with an energy choice supplier are not affected.

On Jan. 23, 2024, a single auction was conducted to establish the rate for the SCO customers. Bids were submitted by natural gas suppliers based on fixed adjustments to the NYMEX settlement price. The names of the winning bidders will remain confidential for 15 days to protect the suppliers’ positions in contract negotiations with pipeline companies.

A copy of today’s finding and order, and a redacted auction report are available on the PUCO website at www.PUCO.ohio.gov. Click on the link to the Docketing Information System and enter the case number 24-121-GA-UNC.

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The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is the sole agency charged with regulating public utility service. The role of the PUCO is to assure all residential, business and industrial consumers have access to adequate, safe and reliable utility services at fair prices while facilitating an environment that provides competitive choices. Consumers with utility-related questions or concerns can call the PUCO Call Center at (800) 686-PUCO (7826) and speak with a representative. 

For additional information, contact: Matt Schilling | (614) 466-7750