Understanding Rates & Tariffs

Liberty is a regulated utility; our rates must be reviewed and approved by state regulators. Rates reflect the cost to provide safe, reliable natural gas service, customer account services, emergency response, maintain and improve system infrastructure to comply with state and federal regulations. Rates also reflect the cost and obligation of serving our customers safely and reliably.

Each year, Liberty files a Gas Supply Plan with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) to recover the cost of natural gas it delivers to customers. This cost is determined by the natural gas market and passed through to customers without markup. It can be affected by many factors including weather patterns, supply and demand, and access to locally sourced natural gas. On your bill, this charge is listed as the Purchased Gas Adjustment.

Liberty also annually files a review of volumetric charges (also referred to as delivery charges) through the Georgia Rate Adjustment Mechanism (GRAM). For this, a rate review filing is prepared and submitted to the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC). A rate review provides a detailed description of the circumstances that support the need for a rate change; this may include infrastructure upgrades, investments in safety and security, and other operational needs. State regulators may approve or deny rate reviews or ask that they be modified. We work closely with state regulators to ensure our rates are fair and our service remains safe and reliable.

Once rates are approved, they become part of our larger tariff document. Tariffs are a detailed accounting of the services we deliver, our rates for those services and the policies to which we adhere.

When rates change, we communicate these changes to our customers through your monthly bills, advertisements in local newspapers, and on this website.

What to expect with 2023-2024 Rates

There are two primary categories of charges on your monthly bill – the cost of natural gas and the cost associated with delivering the natural gas to your home or business. In addition to these charges, customers will also see various city, county, and state taxes. For an in-depth explanation of your bill, click here.  

Gas Supply Plan (Cost of Natural Gas)

In September 2023, Liberty filed a gas supply plan with the Georgia PSC (Purchased Gas Adjustment or PGA on your bill). This plan accounts for forecasted gas commodity costs as well as transportation costs. For the 12-month window from October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024, the Purchased Gas Adjustment rates are about 46% lower than they were during the previous year.  This is largely due to a forecasted decrease in the cost of natural gas and transportation.

It is important to note that customers should not expect a 46% reduction in their total monthly bill since many other elements factor in. In total, customers can expect to see an approximate 19% reduction in bills this fall. Also worth noting is the moderate fluctuations customers are likely to still see – up or down – in the cost of gas each month. This is normal and happens every year as the cost of natural gas fluctuates.

GRAM Rates (Cost for delivering the natural gas)

The Georgia Rate Adjustment Mechanism (GRAM) is referenced on your bill as “delivery charges” and includes costs such as maintenance, safety and inspection programs, and customer service metering and billing. On February 1 2024, new GRAM rates became effective in order to support numerous system improvements. These include:

• Installation of advanced meter reading systems that are more efficient and more accurate
• Launch of an advanced leak detection program to increase safety and reliability of the system
• Addition of renewable natural gas interconnections to reduce carbon emissions
• Implementation of a new cyber security program

The overall impact of the rate increase is $0.99 per month for the typical residential customer, from February 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025. That’s about $11.87 per year.

Liberty works very hard to strike a balance between providing service that is safe, reliable and cost-effective for our customers. We also offer several financial assistance programs, budget billing, and other offerings to help our customers manage their monthly bills. Click here to learn more and find a program that fits your needs.