According to the energy company based in Des Moines, it serves over 800,000 natural gas customers across four states.

DES MOINES, Iowa — MidAmerican Energy announced it filed a request with the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) on Tuesday, potentially adding a charge to natural gas customers’ bills.

The energy company said the charge it filed to add can only be used to cover necessary system investments for the safety and reliability of services.

“Providing our customers with safe and reliable service is our highest priority,” Nick Nation, senior vice president of delivery at MidAmerican, said. “This small charge allows us to support our growing communities and maintain the safety and reliability of our natural gas delivery system.”

The proposal, which still needs approval to take effect, is expected to add 0.4% or 17 cents to the average Iowa residential gas bill, the company said. It added that all gas customers should have been notified of the possibility of an increase in cost through the mail.

MidAmerican says it serves 803,000 natural gas customers across Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota.

The energy company says the additional monthly cost, which is a capital investment charge, will help cover investment into gas delivery systems that is required by government regulation as well as projects that enhance the safety of its overall gas system.

Projects that were included in the filing to the IUC have already been completed, according to MidAmerican, and customer rates haven’t been affected yet.

It says some examples of the projects in the filing include moving gas lines and infrastructure because of road work along with certain safety tests conducted to meet federal regulations.

MidAmerican said the IUC will consider its request, determining if the projects included in the filing qualify for a capital investment charge, and then the commission will establish the final charge amount.

The IUC will also choose when the charge could be added to customers’ bills, MidAmerican said, with the extra fee potentially becoming effective as soon as May 30.