Press Release

PUC Announces Public Input Hearings on UGI Central Penn Gas, UGI Penn Natural Gas Rate Increase Requests

Published on 5/18/2009

Filed under: Gas

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has scheduled four hearings to receive public comment on the proposed rate increases for UGI Central Penn Gas Inc. (Central Penn) and UGI Penn Natural Gas Inc. (Penn Natural).

Administrative Law Judge Louis G. Cocheres will conduct the hearings at:

2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, 2009

McGown School of Business

Kings College

Burke Auditorium

North River & West Union St.

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711

2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, May 21, 2009

Tyoga Country Club

759 Route 660

P.O. Box 663

Wellsboro, PA 16901

Central Penn is proposing an increase in annual rates of approximately $19.6 million (12.05 percent) while Penn Natural proposes an annual increase in rates of $38.1 million (11.42 percent). 

Under the proposal for Central Penn, the bill for the average residential customer using approximately 78.1 dekatherms of gas per year would increase from $114.72 to $132.79 a month (15.8 percent).   Central Penn provides gas service to approximately 77,000 retail customers in portions of 35 counties. 

For Penn Natural customers, the monthly bill for an average residential customer using 1,066 hundred cubic feet (ccf) per year would increase from $138.32 to $155.94 a month (12.7 percent).

According to both of the companies’ filings, the proposed increases are needed to continue to provide safe and reliable service, maintain the integrity of existing capital, attract additional capital at reasonable rates and have a reasonable opportunity to earn a fair rate of return on its property used and useful in rendering gas service to the public.

Information on the ratemaking process is available on the Commission’s Web site.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearings and provide comments.  Customer testimony will become part of the record on which the PUC will issue its final decision. 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.
• Bring copies.  If you have a written statement you would like to give to the judge as evidence, please bring two copies for the court reporter and several copies for the other participants.
• Your testimony will not become part of the record in the proceeding 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 to clarify something you said.

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 Nos. R-2008-2079660; R-2008-2079675

Contact:

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