Blacksburg voters will decide fate of town's natural gas company

Blacksburg residents will have their say in whether the town's natural gas company should be sold.

In addition to casting votes for the nation's next president and legislative posts, voters will decide the fate of the municipally owned utility company at the polls Nov.4.

York County Natural Gas Authority approached town officials nearly two years ago about purchasing the natural gas system, and earlier this year offered $2.5 million to acquire the Blacksburg operation. Town officials later agreed in principle to the sale.

According to town officials, legislation in regard to how the York County gas provider was formed requires a stamp of approval from Blacksburg residents. Mayor David Hogue believes it's the right thing to do.

"We want to know what people have to say," Hogue said. "The municipality owns the operation and the people of the town have a say in the deal."

The Blacksburg Gas Company,

which has been operated

locally since 1950, provides

service to approximately 624 local customers.

Plans to sell the natural gas system have been on the table for a while following the departure of Hanson Brick Company last year. The local brick company was the town's primary gas company, purchasing about half the total gas sold.

If approved, customers would join York Natural Gas' large service area which includes approximately 52,000 customers in York County and the northeast portion of Cherokee County.

The gas authority currently provides service to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

Although adding the referendum comes less than three weeks before voters head to the polls, Hogue believes it is the right time to settle the matter.

"We've been waiting to see what they have to say and this gives us the perfect opportunity to do so," he said.

If voters reject the proposed sale, negotiations with the York County gas provider will stop.