Press Release

PUC Public Input Hearings Set in Early March for $156 Million Rate Increase Sought by Peoples Natural Gas

Published on 2/13/2024

Filed under: Gas

In-Person Hearings in Allegheny and Butler Counties along with Telephonic Hearings Provide Opportunities to Gather Input from Customers and Other Concerned Parties

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced a series of six in-person and telephonic hearings in early March to gather public input on the rate increase request filed by Peoples Natural Gas Company LLC (Peoples Gas) to raise natural gas distribution rates to increase annual revenue by $156 million (18.7%).  Peoples Gas provides service to approximately 700,000 residents and businesses in Pittsburgh and surrounding counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.

PUC Public Input Hearings

A total of four in-person public input hearings have been scheduled for the following dates, times, and locations:

• Tuesday, March 5, 2024 – Monroeville, Allegheny County
  Hearing #1 will begin at 1 p.m.
  Hearing #2 will begin at 6 p.m.
  Both hearings will be held at the Community College of Allegheny County, Boyce Campus Auditorium, 595 Beatty Road, Monroeville, PA 15146
  
  
• Wednesday, March 6, 2024 – Butler, Butler County
  Hearing #1 will begin at 1 p.m.
  Hearing #2 will begin at 6 p.m.
  Both hearings will be held at Butler County Community College, Main Campus Founders Hall, 107 College Drive, Butler, PA 16002

Additionally, two telephonic public input hearings have been scheduled for the following:

• Thursday, March 7, 2024
  Hearing #1 will begin at 1 p.m.
  Hearing #2 will begin at 6 p.m.

PUC Administrative Law Judge Mary D. Long will preside over the public input hearings.

Signing Up for the Telephonic Public Input Hearings

If you wish to testify at a telephonic public input hearing, you are encouraged to pre-register with the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. To pre-register for the telephonic public input hearings, contact the OCA at 1-800-684-6560 or at consumer@paoca.org and provide the following:

• Your first and last name.
• The date and time of the public input hearing at which you wish to testify.
• A phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing.
• Your email address (if you have one).
• If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.
  
  

Hearing Exhibits

If you have any hearing exhibits to which you will refer during the telephonic hearing, please email them to the OCA at consumer@paoca.org. The OCA will forward the exhibits to the Judges and all parties.  Exhibits must be received by Wednesday, March 6, 2024.

Requests for Interpreters

If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, please pre-register as soon as possible.  Every reasonable effort will be made to have an interpreter present.  If you register too close to the hearing date, there may not be enough time to arrange for an interpreter.  

Offering Testimony at a Public Input Hearing

The PUC offers tips on how to participate in a public input hearing, 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.
• 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 you a question to clarify something you said.
  
  

Peoples Gas Rate Increase Request

Under the proposal filed by Peoples Gas, an average residential customer in the Peoples Natural Gas Division (PNGD) using 80 Mcf per month will see an increase in their monthly bills from $73.16 to $88.79 (21.4%), and an average residential customer in the Peoples Gas Division (PGD) using 80 Mcf per month will see an increase in their monthly bill from $84.00 to $90.35 (7.6%).

Additionally, Peoples Gas also proposes other changes including the merger of the rate districts for PNGD and PGD, the addition of a weather normalization adjustment, and changes to several existing tariff riders including the Tax Repairs Surcredit, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Surcharge, and the Allegheny Valley Capacity Charge.

A final decision by the PUC on the Peoples Gas rate increase request is due by Sept. 27, 2024.

About the PUC

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 X (formerly 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-2023-3044549

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov