Kurt Adams
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — With natural gas costs dropping across the country, customers of Summit Utilities will see a reduction in the cost of gas, which began on April 1, 2023.
The new cost-of-gas rate for Oklahoma residential customers is $0.5447 per ccf (100 cubic feet), down from $1.22 per ccf. That’s a 44% decrease from the winter rate and a 26.7% decrease from the 2022 summer rate, company officials said.
The Arkansas Public Service Commission requires Summit to adjust its cost of gas Nov. 1 and April 1 each year.
Summit is prohibited by law from earning a profit on the cost of natural gas delivered to its customers’ homes or businesses; the cost of fuel is a direct “pass-through” to customers.
“We know that high energy costs have created challenges for many of our customers, and we are glad to share financial relief through a reduced cost of gas,” said Fred Kirkwood, chief customer experience officer for Summit.
In a video message to customers, Summit CEO Kurt Adams noted that market prices for natural gas “are expected to remain volatile” but for now the unit cost of gas is lower.
He also apologized for the turmoil that ensued after Summit Utilities bought CenterPoint’s gas system in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texarkana, Texas. The transaction occurred in 2021 and closed in early 2022.
Adams acknowledged that many of Summit’s new residential and business customers alike are “frustrated and even angered.” Summit “should have done better,” he said.
The company hired an additional 50 customer service representatives since November and plans to hire more, he vowed. Consequently, he said, call wait times now average less than two minutes. Summit also has made great strides in improving its billing accuracy, Adams said.
“We encourage customers who face challenges paying their bills to call our customer service department,” Kirkwood said. Those looking for assistance can visit SummitCares.com or call customer service from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday at (800) 992-7552.
Summit Utilities is a natural gas energy provider to approximately 539,000 families and businesses throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texarkana, Texas. The regulated utility company has approximately 99,000 customers in Oklahoma plus “roughly” 440,000 in Arkansas and in Texarkana, company spokesperson Stephanie Sharp told Southwest Ledger.
Summit provides retail natural gas service to 91 Oklahoma cities and towns. Those include Lawton, Elgin, Fletcher, Sterling, Cache, Geronimo, Altus, Apache, Arapaho, Blair, Burns Flat, Chickasha, Comanche, Duke, Duncan, Mangum, Marlow, Martha, Olustee and Temple.
A Summit subsidiary, Arkansas Oklahoma Gas, serves approximately 60,000 customers, Sharp said.