S.J. Gas files for $11-a-month increase

South Jersey Gas yesterday filed for a $35 million base-rate increase that would add about 8 percent, or $11.48, to a typical monthly residential heating bill.

The Folsom, Atlantic County, company filed the request with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, citing the need to recover $466 million in infrastructure investments and increases in health-care and pension costs, said Sam Pignatelli, vice president of revenue requirements.

The increase would boost the monthly bill of a customer consuming 100 therms from $142.56 to $154.04. A therm is equal to 100,000 BTUs or about 100 cubic feet of natural gas.

The rate request will take about a year to review. The utility serves parts of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties and all of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem Counties.

The filing also includes new features in response to the changing retail market for natural gas.

For the first time, the company would create a discounted rate for residential customers who install gas-fired electric-generation systems.

The company also wants to create a discounted rate to encourage commercial customers to use natural gas as a motor fuel.