At Summit Utilities Arkansas, Inc. (“Summit”), our mission is to deliver safe, always-on natural gas service to Arkansans across the state for essential, everyday needs like home heating, cooking, bathing, and more. To do that, we must operate, maintain, and continuously improve and invest in nearly 14,000 miles of pipeline while providing the exceptional customer experience you expect from your local utility company.

These important services are paid for through our rates. As a regulated utility company, Summit’s rates are approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission (“APSC”).  Arkansas law requires that the rates of regulated utility companies be reasonable; that the service they provide be safe and adequate; and that those utilities be allowed the opportunity to generate revenues which will keep them in good financial health.* 

We are sharing this information to notify you that, pursuant to the Settlement Agreement reached in Summit’s acquisition proceeding in 2021, the APSC requires us to file a notice of intent to file a general rate case no later than January 2024. Summit filed such notice on November 20, 2023, and Summit is now seeking approval from the APSC for a rate increase for our Arkansas customers in its Application filed with the APSC on Thursday, January 25, 2024.

Summit’s existing rates have been in place since our acquisition in 2022, and as with most companies across Arkansas, Summit has experienced rising costs. Our proposed rate increase more accurately reflects our cost of business and is similar to rate requests other utilities are asking for in Arkansas. It is largely driven by inflation, economic conditions, and capital investments in our system, so we can provide you with safe and reliable gas service that’s always there when you need it.

Summit has made substantial investments in the safety and reliability of our infrastructure, and we are committed to continuing our investment to replace aging infrastructure and ensuring the safety and reliability of our natural gas system in Arkansas, which our customers have come to expect. In 2023, Summit invested more than $155 million in ensuring our company and system stands ready to provide safe, reliable service for its customers.  In addition to our investments, we have hired more than 300 Arkansans in various positions throughout our company to provide the best service possible to our customers.