The Maryland Public Service Commission on April 23 noted Washington Gas Light’s (WGL) calendar year 2024 STRIDE (Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement) report and reconciliation, and accepted the company’s proposed 2025 surcharge factors derived from the 2024 reconciliation.

Staff findings and company performance
Staff representatives reported that, as of Dec. 31, 2024, Washington Gas remediated or replaced 1,477 services (the company’s plan had listed 1,297), installed 3.8 miles of mains (planned 3.7 miles) and retired 6.6 miles of mains (planned 6.5 miles). Staff said WGL spent approximately $53,100,000 on STRIDE projects in calendar year 2024, or about 102% of the company’s estimated $52,300,000 budget for the year. Staff reviewed the revenue-requirement calculations and concluded the total STRIDE investment expenditures were within the commission-approved budget.

The reconciliation and impact on customers
Staff reported Washington Gas over-collected $328,436 (including $29,985 of interest) for the 2024 STRIDE reconciliation — a decrease of $10,865 (3%) from the 2023 over-collection. Staff’s recalculation produced an actual revenue requirement for 2024 of $9,271,800 (total cost $9,301,785 less interest $29,985). Staff recommended the commission note the company’s filing and accept the computed reconciliation factors; the commission so ordered.

Questions and context
Commissioners asked whether staff performs a prudence review in the annual reconciliation (staff said that prudence review generally occurs in a subsequent rate case). Staff and company representatives said Washington Gas would file a rate case within the STRIDE plan period, at which time prudence and other issues would be examined in more detail. Staff urged that companies better align project lists to avoid removing projects outside original lists during the year.

Legislative changes
Commission staff and Washington Gas noted pending legislation (Senate Bill 937 at the time of the meeting) that could modify STRIDE requirements going forward. Staff said some statutory changes would not retroactively alter approved project lists but could require additional analyses in future filings.

Decision
The commission voted to note Washington Gas’s calendar year 2024 STRIDE annual report and reconciliation and to accept the resulting 2025 surcharge factors. The motion passed with recorded ayes from commissioners present.