The Colorado Springs City Council approved a new charge on Colorado Springs Utilities bills Tuesday to help cover the cost of replacing natural gas lines.

The new charge will increase the average family’s natural gas bill by approximately $8.50 per month, according to Utilities. The average bill for commercial and industrial customers will increase by $18 a month because of their heavier gas usage

Utilities is required to speed up its replacement of unprotected gas lines because of a consent agreement with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Under the agreement, Utilities will have to spend roughly an additional $15 million per year to replace all the at-risk gas mains and service lines by 2034.

Utilities staff proposed the rate change as a bill rider, which will be reevaluated in 2029 to determine whether it will be rolled into the baseline utility bill or remain a separate charge.

In March, the City Council approved a cost adjustment lowering the rates for natural gas and electricity. That change reduced the average family’s natural gas bill by $7.60 per month.

Both the cost adjustment and the additional gas charge were approved 8-0 by the City Council.

Utilities staff previously told the Gazette that the new natural gas charge will likely take effect July 1.