More than 25,000 Northern Virginians are plenty steamed after Washington Gas Light Co. recently disclosed years' worth of billing errors that overcharged some customers and did not charge others enough. The company intends to send refunds to those who paid too much and is seeking approval from the State Corporation Commission for a plan to collect back payments from those who paid too little.

Washington Gas estimates that 9,500 customers are due a refund and 16,300 customers owe the company more money.

Fairfax County has requested the State Corporation Commission, which governs utilities, to hold a public hearing in Northern Virginia on Washington Gas' refund and collection proposal.

Nearly half the affected customers live in Fairfax County.

According to the county's consumer protection agency, 4,370 Fairfax residents qualify for a refund, while 7,500 may wind up paying extra.

The billing irregularity, which affects roughly 6 percent of the company's 380,000 customers in Northern Virginia, was discovered in March 2001 after a customer contested the billing for his new home.

The error resulted from a billing adjustment based on the gas pressure being delivered to his home.

An internal investigation showed the problem was widespread going back about four years, according to company officials.

Letters were sent to some customers, and a field team has been formed to identify other affected customers through on-site meter inspections.

For those who qualify, the company proposes to refund up to five years' worth of overpayments plus interest.

Washington Gas also proposes to rebill those who underpaid for up to a five-year period. County and company officials estimate the average affected customer would have to pay about $100 for each year they were billed in error.

Washington Gas proposes allowing those customers to pay off the additional costs in monthly payments.

Fairfax County's consumer protection staff contends that state law allows the company to collect only half the under-billings for the 12-month period before they discovered the problem.

The State Corporation Commission is expected to announce a public hearing in the coming weeks and render a decision by late summer or early fall.

Zwire

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2002