Suit Seeks to Reverse Natural Gas Rate Hike
A class-action lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Thursday on behalf of Long Beach residents alleging that natural gas rate hikes imposed in December are excessive and illegal.
Plaintiffs’ lawyer Dan Stormer said the Long Beach Gas Department has collected $38 million in excess of prevailing local rates over the past six months, and has violated municipal codes by not saving any of the money.
The lawsuit seeks an order for reversal of the higher rates and compensation for plaintiffs.
Long Beach City Atty. Robert Shannon said the lawsuit was “a disappointment” and misdirected. The city has filed its own suit in federal court against suppliers to “get that money back for our ratepayers,” he said.
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