Westvaco Corp. v. Columbia Gas of Virginia, Inc.

This is an appeal of right from an order of the State Corporation Commission granting Columbia Gas of Virginia, Inc., a rate increase. The central question on appeal is whether the Commission erred in permitting Columbia to allocate the increase among its several classes of customers by the use of a uniform surcharge, rather than an equal percentage. Finding no error in the Commission’s action, we will affirm.

The record shows that on June 11, 1984, Columbia filed an application with the Commission for an “expedited increase” of $1,846,878, or 2.59%, in its rates for natural gas service. By…