The Gas Company filed an application today with the state Public Utilities Commission to raise rates by 8.4 percent for more than half its customers across the state.

Company officials said the rate adjustment request, the first in eight years, is being made to recover increased operational and maintenance costs, capital investments, renewable energy projects and compliance with new federal regulations.

If approved, the new rates will affect 35,000 utility customers, or approximately half of The Gas Company's 67,000 total customers. The new rates would not appear on customers' bills until mid-2009. Non-utility tank and bottled gas customers are not affected by this action. Utility customers are typically those who are served by an underground pipeline, The Gas Company said in a news release.

Overall, The Gas Company is seeking an increase of 8.4 percent to utility customers, or $12.5 million. If approved, the requested increase would add approximately $10.62 per month – 35 cents a day – to the average residential bill of $70.