Maine Natural Gas seeks rate increase that could boost monthly bills by $50 over 3 years

Maine Natural Gas is seeking a rate increase as part of a proposed three-year plan that could drive customers' bills up by nearly $50 per month by 2018.

The company says it needs more than $10 million in additional revenue over the next three years to improve the safety and reliability of its distribution system, expand customer services and bring earnings in line with industry standards.

No date has been set for a public hearing, but at an initial case conference Tuesday, lawyers for Maine Natural Gas sought a decision by Dec. 1.

The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/1MyUbEr ) reports that Maine Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Iberdrola USA, said in its filing that a typical household's bill for distribution and supply could go from $175 a month to $220.

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Information from: Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com