The Office and Professional Employees International Union yesterday filed to intervene in a rate hike request by Washington Gas Light Co., saying it planned to protest the proposal out of concern that the company may hire outside contractors to replace customer service workers, which the union represents.

The company requested a rate increase of 7.7 percent in December with the District’s Public Service Commission and in September with Virginia regulators.

The company, which provides natural gas to nearly 1 million customers in Maryland, Virginia and the District, has not asked for a rate increase since 2003. “There has been inflation, additional compliance-related expenses, including Sarbanes-Oxley and the Pipeline Safety Act, and a decline in natural gas use by customers. Those are really our reasons for a rate increase,” said Jan Davis, a company spokeswoman. Customers in Virginia may notice a slight increase in their bills starting this week, but if Virginia regulators reject the proposed increase, customers will receive a refund.

[1] washingtonpost.com: Union Protests Gas Rate Hike to Raise Outsourcing Issue