Ky. Public Service Commission denies Atmos gas rate increase

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Public Service Commission has denied a request by Atmos Energy to increase residential natural gas rates for about 177,000 customers in central and western parts of the state.

The move by the commission leaves the total base rate portion of the monthly bill essentially unchanged for residential customers.

Atmos asked the commission to approve a rate increase in September, seeking an additional $14.45 million in annual revenue from gas distribution operations. The company later revised the request to $14.37 million.

The commission also directed Atmos to begin tracking the amount of time that company executives and other employees spend on lobbying-related activities. The commission said this should be done so that those expenditures can be excluded from recovery through rates, if necessary.