More Natural Gas Could be Coming to Conn.

Connecticut regulators have issued a draft ruling approving a massive expansion of natural gas service across the state.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, or PURA, released the ruling Wednesday. It approves a proposal by the three investor-owned gas companies in the state to connect about 280,000 new customers to gas over 10 years.

The typical homeowner would face no up-front connection costs and would pay an extra 10 percent each billing cycle for 10 years. Average-size businesses would pay an extra 50 percent per billing cycle over a decade.

Family-owned heating oil businesses say the expansion would hurt their companies.

PURA will accept written comments on the draft ruling until Nov. 12 and expects to issue a final ruling Nov. 21.