Council approves gas company increase

Huntington Beach is expected to bring in an extra $200,000 a year after the City Council approved a new gas fee surcharge.

The City Council approved an agreement with the Southern California Gas Co. 4 to 3 with Councilmen Joe Carchio, Don Hansen and Devin Dwyer voting against it May 3.

The agreement tacks on a new 1% surcharge fee to users for the next 25 years to bring in an estimated $200,000 a year for the city’s general fund.

Gas bills are estimated to increase by 33 cents a month for residents, $2.37 for businesses and $2.50 for industrial customers.

The surcharge is part of an update to the city’s franchise agreement with Southern California Gas, which expired in 2009.

— Britney Barnes