On December 3, 2021, Southwest Gas Corporation (“SWG”) filed an application for a permanent gross revenue increase with the Arizona Corporation Commission (“ACC”). After careful consideration of SWG's filing and the positions of the other parties in the case, the ACC authorized an increase of approximately $54.3 million, effective February 1, 2023. The increase is equivalent to a monthly bill increase of $2.94 (or 6.64%) for an average residential customer using 24 therms. Actual bills may be higher or lower than this amount, depending on usage and other rate adjustments.
The Company's activities reflect its continued investment in Arizona, to support the State's economic and customer growth. The results of the rate case support the $677 million in rate base investments the Company has, or will make, since 2019 to ensure the continued provision of safe and reliable service in Arizona Meanwhile, the Company has added more than 61,000 customers. The Company has effectively managed its expenses in line with customer growth.
Over the last five years, the Company’s customer growth in Arizona has increased approximately 9 percent, the same rate of growth of the Company’s expenses. While the level of expenses has increased, the increases are in line with customer growth and are reasonable to recover in the cost of service.