Natural- gas lines bill gets House OK

The House narrowly approved a bill Tuesday aimed at expanding natural- gas lines to residents who don’t have such service.

Senate Bill 265 by Sen. Ronald Caldwell, R- Wynne, passed 56- 25. It was sponsored by Rep. DeAnn Vaught, R- Horatio, in the House. It goes back to the Senate to consider a House- approved amendment.

The bill provides a procedure that enables natural- gas companies to present proposed natural- gas pipeline extension projects requested by potential customers to the Arkansas Public Service Commission for review, Vaught said. If the commission finds that the extension would be beneficial to those requesting the pipes, it can approve the project.

Limits ensure that existing customers average price increases of 8 cents to 10 cents per month to run the lines, Vaught said.

But Rep. Stephen Meeks, R- Greenbrier, said it was unfair to ask utility customers half a county away to pay for new customers to get gas lines.

“We’re nickeling and diming people again,” he said. “One of the reasons I ran for office was because I got tired of politicians nickeling and diming us, and this is what this is allowing to take place.”

— Brian Fanney