While Dominion's proposed 30 percent hike on its standard service charge would impact people all over Ohio, those people all have their own unique reasons for questioning it.

"Even having steady incomes, a dual income household, we can't afford a 30 percent hike for a bill that does nothing for us," said Abigail Bickerstaff.

"Our money doesn't go as far as it did when I retired 25 years ago. We need people to think about that before they start raising stuff 30 percent," added Robert Weitzel.

Dominion, which just got acquired by a Canadian company and will soon be known as Enbridge, requested the rate hike.
It works out to roughly eight more dollars a month, but will increase over time.
The company told the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio that it has to keep up with infrastructure costs.

"(But) they also consider the public, public testimony, and the public input. And that's where you come in," said attorney Maureen Willis with The Ohio Consumers' Counsel.

At a special meeting in Warren council chambers Thursday, she called on Ohio lawmakers to change how members of the PUCO are appointed, and replace them with consumer advocates.

Third ward councilman Greg Greathouse invited Willis to talk to residents.
He hopes they'll use whichever megaphone they prefer.

"You can mail it, you can call them, you can email it, there's any number of ways to make your voices heard," Greathouse said.

You can contact the PUCO at (800) 686-7826, sending a letter referencing case #23-0894-GA-AIR to 180 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215, or file a comment by CLICKING HERE.

The PUCO will hold more public hearings on this issue in the coming months; it only has to hold those meetings in cities with 100,000 people or more, though it can voluntarily hold them in smaller locales.