The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved an Atlanta Gas Light Co. (AGLC) request to begin a multi-year system upgrade to improve service on peak demand days.

The PSC voted 4-1 to approve AGLC’s plans to implement its strategic infrastructure development and enhancement (Stride) program, which was designed to ensure that the AGL subsidiary’s gas distribution system will be able to handle increased load growth and to improve reliability.

AGLC plans to invest approximately $400 million over the next 10 years in improvements, including upgrading its distribution system and liquefied natural gas facilities to improve reliability and meet forecasted growth. The Stride program’s initial three-year construction phase will cost an estimated $175.7 million, according to AGLC.

Atlanta’s metropolitan area has experienced rapid growth in the past two decades, and much of that growth has shifted to regions farther from AGLC’s interstate supply points and transmission pipeline system, AGLC said.

The PSC adopted an amendment to levelize the increase that consumers will see in their bills over the next three years. AGLC customers will pay an additional 39 cents as part of the monthly AGLC base charge beginning this month. Rates will increase by an additional 39 cents on Oct. 1, 2010 and another 40 cents on Oct. 1, 2011. AGLC’s original proposal would have increased bills by 95 cents a month.

Stride would merge into the existing AGLC pipeline replacement program that began in 1998.

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