Some Ohioans will pay more to heat their homes this winter, but not as much as they might have, now that a proposed Columbia Gas rate hike has been whittled down.

Consumer advocates worked with Columbia Gas of Ohio to reduce a proposed $212 million increase, but the company still earned the right to raise customers’ heating bills by $68.2 million. Columbia estimates that the rate increase will cost an average customer about $50 a year.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio recommended an increase between $35.2 million and $57.6 million, while the Ohio Consumers' Counsel and nonprofit energy supplier NOPEC submitted testimony supporting a $10 million increase.

The deal announced Monday split the difference between those recommendations and what Columbia Gas sought.

The rate increase takes effect in the first quarter of 2023.

Columbia’s initial request would have hiked natural gas bills for the company’s 1.4 million customers — which includes homes and businesses in 61 counties — by as much as 27%.

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As part of the settlement, Columbia will end a $110 million efficiency program for non-low-income households.

Columbia will continue a $70 million weatherization program for low-income households, and offer bill payment assistance worth $3.5 million, over the next four years.

“We remain concerned about the impact of rising natural gas prices on Ohio families and businesses,” Bruce Weston, agency director for the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, said in a statement.

Weston encouraged customers to take energy efficiency steps to moderate heating bills.

In the same statement, NOPEC thanked Columbia for negotiating down its initial request.

“We appreciate Columbia’s willingness to work with the parties to achieve a compromise," executive director Chuck Keiper said in a news release.

Columbia Gas did not respond to a message seeking comment.

pcooley@dispatch.com

@PatrickACooley

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio natural gas customers to pay more - but not as much as expected