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NiSource Unit Files for Rate Hike to Fortify Infrastructure
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NiSource’s (NI - Free Report) subsidiary, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, proposed to increase gas rates for natural gas customers in southeastern Massachusetts. If approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, without any changes, residential customers will have to pay an additional $4.95 in every month, up nearly 3.6% from the existing rate.
The proposed rate hike of $24.1 million will be adjusted by $9.1 million in the first year, owing to the positive effect from the implementation of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Details of the Hike
Columbia Gas of Massachusetts is planning to increase current operating revenues by 3.9%. The proposed $24.1-million increase will enable the company to recoup costs and comply with stringent federal and state regulatory regulations. Also, the unit will be able to redeem capital costs incurred for upgradation of gas infrastructure since 2016.
Following an approval, the new rates will be effective from Mar 1, 2019.
Necessity of Rate Hikes
NiSource, a fully-regulated utility company, is dependent on rate hike to continue with any kind of investment. To deliver safe and secure natural gas to customers, it is important to replace ageing pipelines, fix leakages and focus on operating services as well as maintenance of infrastructure, which require regular investments.
A regulated utility is required to have hike rates on a regular basis to continue with long-term infrastructure spending. Upgraded infrastructure allows the utilities to provide better service and cater to rising demands.
Along with NiSource, few companies from the Utility sector filed rate hike application in 2018. Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PEG - Free Report) requested to increase its electric and gas base delivery rates to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Recently, Duke Energy (DUK - Free Report) proposed to increase electricity rates for customers residing in North Carolina.
Zacks Rank & Price Movement
NiSource has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the same industry is CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP - Free Report) , sporting a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) and posted an average positive earnings surprise of 0.78% in the past four quarters. You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.
NiSource’s shares have gained 1.6% in the last 12 months, compared with the industry’s growth of 0.3%.
Breaking News: Cryptocurrencies Now Bigger than Visa
The total market cap of all cryptos recently surpassed $700 billion – more than a 3,800% increase in the previous 12 months. They’re now bigger than Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and even Visa! The new asset class may expand even more rapidly in 2018 as new investors continue pouring in and Wall Street becomes increasingly involved.
Zacks has just named 4 companies that enable investors to take advantage of the explosive growth of cryptocurrencies via the stock market.
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NiSource Unit Files for Rate Hike to Fortify Infrastructure
NiSource’s (NI - Free Report) subsidiary, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, proposed to increase gas rates for natural gas customers in southeastern Massachusetts. If approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, without any changes, residential customers will have to pay an additional $4.95 in every month, up nearly 3.6% from the existing rate.
The proposed rate hike of $24.1 million will be adjusted by $9.1 million in the first year, owing to the positive effect from the implementation of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Details of the Hike
Columbia Gas of Massachusetts is planning to increase current operating revenues by 3.9%. The proposed $24.1-million increase will enable the company to recoup costs and comply with stringent federal and state regulatory regulations. Also, the unit will be able to redeem capital costs incurred for upgradation of gas infrastructure since 2016.
Following an approval, the new rates will be effective from Mar 1, 2019.
Necessity of Rate Hikes
NiSource, a fully-regulated utility company, is dependent on rate hike to continue with any kind of investment. To deliver safe and secure natural gas to customers, it is important to replace ageing pipelines, fix leakages and focus on operating services as well as maintenance of infrastructure, which require regular investments.
A regulated utility is required to have hike rates on a regular basis to continue with long-term infrastructure spending. Upgraded infrastructure allows the utilities to provide better service and cater to rising demands.
Along with NiSource, few companies from the Utility sector filed rate hike application in 2018. Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PEG - Free Report) requested to increase its electric and gas base delivery rates to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Recently, Duke Energy (DUK - Free Report) proposed to increase electricity rates for customers residing in North Carolina.
Zacks Rank & Price Movement
NiSource has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the same industry is CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP - Free Report) , sporting a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) and posted an average positive earnings surprise of 0.78% in the past four quarters. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.
NiSource’s shares have gained 1.6% in the last 12 months, compared with the industry’s growth of 0.3%.
Breaking News: Cryptocurrencies Now Bigger than Visa
The total market cap of all cryptos recently surpassed $700 billion – more than a 3,800% increase in the previous 12 months. They’re now bigger than Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and even Visa! The new asset class may expand even more rapidly in 2018 as new investors continue pouring in and Wall Street becomes increasingly involved.
Zacks has just named 4 companies that enable investors to take advantage of the explosive growth of cryptocurrencies via the stock market.
Click here to access these stocks>>