HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced Wednesday that a pair of telephonic hearings will be held in early June to gather public input on the rate increase proposed by UGI Utilities Inc. – Gas Division (UGI).
The proposed rate increase is for natural gas distribution services to approximately 650,000 residents and businesses in 45 counties across Pennsylvania. UGI’s gas service area includes parts of McKean, Potter and Cameron counties.
Public input hearings for UGI’s request are scheduled for June 4. Two hearings will be held that day, one beginning at 1 p.m. and one at 6 p.m.
All parties will participate via telephone and Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge Christopher P. Pell will be presiding.
Individuals who wish to testify at the telephonic public input hearing must contact the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) before 5 p.m. June 1 to provide their name, telephone number and the topic of their testimony. OCA can be reached toll free at 1-800-684-6560.
Members of the public who wish to listen to the public input hearing, but not offer any testimony, must also contact the OCA by June 1.
Any persons who have not contacted OCA by June 1 will not be able to participate in or listen to the public input hearings.
On the day of the hearings, starting at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on June 4, customers will testify in the order they signed up.
The UGI request, filed on Jan. 28, would increase its operating revenues by approximately $74.6 million per year (8.5%).
Under the UGI request, the total average monthly bill of a residential customer using 73.5 Cubic Feet (Ccf) per month would increase from $81.54 to $90.22 (10.6%).
On Feb. 27, the Commission voted unanimously to suspend the proposed rate increase request for up to seven months from the time the rates would otherwise have become effective, and to assign the case to the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge for corresponding proceedings and the issuance of a recommended decision. A final decision by the Commission regarding the UGI request is due by Nov. 19.
The PUC offers tips on how to participate in a public input hearing:
• People should prepare what they are going to say beforehand. Even though it is not required, they may want to write out their statements, which can be read.
• Any formal testimony that is offered during the hearing will become part of the record on which the PUC will issue its final decision.
• Understand that parties in the case may want to ask participating members of the public a question to clarify something they said.
