Press Release

PUC Hosts ‘Smart Hearings’ to Gather Public Input Regarding $71 Million UGI Natural Gas Rate Increase Request

Published on 3/22/2019

Filed under: Gas

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) will host two online “Smart Hearings” to gather utility customer opinions on a proposed $71.1 million rate increase request by UGI Utilities Inc. – Gas Division (UGI).

Smart Hearings enable residents throughout Pennsylvania to see, hear and participate in the hearing without the need to travel in order to attend the hearings in person. During Smart Hearings, concerned individuals will be able to offer their testimony or comments by telephone, from any convenient location, to be included in the live Internet stream. UGI ratepayers may appear in person for those who prefer to attend the hearing.

PUC Administrative Law Judges Dennis J. Buckley and Benjamin J. Myers will conduct the Smart Hearings, which will be live-streamed on the PUC website and will include both telephone and in-person testimony:

Monday, April 22, 2019 
1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Hearing Room 1
Commonwealth Keystone Building
400 North St.
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Participation in the Smart Hearings may be in person (at the Harrisburg site) or by telephone (from any location).  In-person participation requires no further action.  Participation by telephone requires that interested persons contact the Office of Administrative Law Judge (OALJ) by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, to provide their names, telephone numbers, and the topics of their testimony.  They may call the OALJ at 717-787-1399 to register.

If you are a person with a disability, and you wish to attend the hearing, we may be able to make arrangements for your special needs.  Please contact the OALJ scheduling office at least three (3) business days prior to your hearing to submit your request.
 
•         OALJ Scheduling Office: 717-787-1399
•         Relay Service number for persons who are deaf or hearing-impaired: 1-800-654-5988

UGI Rate Increase Request

Under the UGI request, which would create uniform rates by rate classes across the utility’s three rate districts – UGI Gas South, UGI Gas North and UGI Central – the average monthly bill for a residential heating customer in the South district would increase from $62.45 to $72.93, an increase of $10.48 or 16.8 percent; the average monthly bill for a residential heating customer in the North district would increase from $89.72 to $97.37, an increase of $7.65 or 8.5 percent; and the average monthly bill for a residential heating customer in the Central district would decrease from $93.68 to $85.91, a reduction of $7.77 or 8.3 percent reduction.

Additionally, the UGI proposal would extend the current temporary federal tax credit on customer bills for a 12-month period, beginning on the effective day of new rates, which would reduce the distribution rate portion of customer bills by 4.5 percent during that 12-month period.

A final Commission decision on the UGI request is due by October 29, 2019.

UGI provides service to nearly 390,000 customers in Eastern and Central Pennsylvania.  On Feb. 28, 2019, the Commission voted unanimously to investigate the company’s request for a $71.1 million (8.9 percent) increase in annual revenues.

Offering Comment at a Hearing

Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearings and provide comments. Their testimony will become part of the record on which the PUC will issue its final decision.

The PUC and Office of Consumer Advocate offer tips on how to participate, including:

• 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 of your statement, if you are attending an in-person hearing.  If you have a written statement you would like to give to the judge, please bring two copies for the court reporter and several copies for the other participants.
• Understand that 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; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at www.puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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 Docket No.: R-2018-3006814

Contact:

• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov