New gas lines come with unexpected costs

ROACHDALE -- With the gas project nearing completion, many local residents are experiencing unexpected costs, in addition to the raise in gas prices.

Due to regulation changes, the company installing natural gas lines, Miller Pipeline, has had to move many of the meters, at a cost to the consumer.

Some of the most common reasons include having a gas meter within a three-foot radius of windows or electrical lines.

While many residents showed up to the town council meeting on Tuesday to voice their complaints about the cost, the council had no solutions.

Many of the council members have had to move meters themselves.

Prior to when construction on the gas project began, each homeowner signed a contract that stated, among other things, that they would incur cost to comply with Indiana Utility Regulatory Committee codes.

The contract failed to state, however, what those codes were.

Moving meters can cost around $200, and complying with codes is essential for anyone in town that wants to continue his or her natural gas service after Nov. 15.

According to an IURC report, Roachdale has until Dec. 1 to comply with natural gas codes.

The old gas system will be shut off Nov. 15, so the approximately 400 gas customers must all be connected to the new system, which is already running, by then.

The cost of connecting to the relocated meters remains the burden of the customers.

Council members were unaware of any grant programs that may be available to help defer the cost, which is burdensome to many residents who are living on a fixed income or were unprepared for the sudden cost associated with connecting to a new meter.