Press Release

PUC Permits Public Input Hearing on PPL’s Rate Stabilization Plan

Published on 3/18/2008

Filed under: Electric

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced it has reopened the record on the Petition of PPL Electric Utilities Corporation for approval of a Rate Stabilization Plan to hold a public input hearing on April 2, 2008, and certify the record for possible action at the PUC Public Meeting on April 9, 2008.  The proposed plan would be in effect from July 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2011, and would be available to residential, small commercial and small industrial customers and certain street lighting customers. 

Administrative Law Judge David A. Salapa will conduct the hearing at:

            3 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, 2008

            Northampton Community College

            Fowler Family Southside Center

            511 East Third Street

            Bethlehem, PA 18015

According to a Secretarial Letter issued today, the PUC is reopening the record of this proceeding and remanding the matter to the Office of Administrative Law Judge for the following reasons:  the issues underlying PPL’s Rate Stabilization Plan and the Joint Petition have garnered significant legislative and media attention over the past year; the impending expiration of rate caps and possible ways to mitigate potential rate increases have been the subject of many Commission and General Assembly initiatives and hearings; and the Rate Stabilization Plan proposed by the Joint Petition is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania and could potentially affect many electric consumers. 

Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearing and provide comments.  Customer testimony will become part of the record on which the PUC will base its decision in the case.  The PUC and state Office of Consumer Advocate, which represents residential customers in rate cases, offer tips on how to participate.  They include:

• Sign in to testify when you arrive.  The judge will call witnesses to speak from the order they have signed in.
• Prepare what you are going to say beforehand.  Even though it is not required, you may want to write out your statement, which can be read.
• If you have a written statement or other papers you want to provide as evidence, please bring copies with you for the Administrative Law Judge, court reporter and other active participants in the case. 
• Your testimony will not become part of the record in the case unless you swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to give is truthful.
• Plan to be questioned.  Parties in the case may want to ask you a question about something you said.  Listen to the whole question. Answer as best you can. It’s OK if you don’t know the answer.

On March 6, 2008, a Recommended Decision was issued by the Office of Administrative Law Judge recommending approval of a Joint Petition for Settlement, which had been submitted by various parties on Feb. 27, 2008.  The Joint Petition seeks to fully resolve all issues associated with the Rate Stabilization Plan, filed by PPL on Nov. 30, 2007, which is intended to help customers mitigate the expected 2010 generation rate increase over a period of several years with most customers receiving a series of annual single digit increases from July 2008 through December 2011.  PPL had sought approval to phase in the currently estimated average 2010 rate increase in excess of 25 percent, anticipated due to the expiration of generation rate caps at the end of 2009 and projected market prices. 

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our Web site at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket No. P-2008-2021776

Contact:

• Denise McCracken
  Senior Communications Specialist
  717-787-5722
  demccracken@pa.gov