Press Release

PUC Approves Lower Than Requested Rate Increase by UGI – Electric Division

Published on 9/21/2023

Filed under: Electric

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved a settlement that includes a substantially smaller base rate increase than requested by UGI Utilities Inc. – Electric Division (UGI Electric) – which provides electric distribution services to approximately 63,000 customers in Luzerne and Wyoming counties.

The Commission voted 5-0 to approve a Joint Petition for Approval of Settlement, which reduces UGI Electric’s requested rate increase by approximately 25%.

UGI Electric’s initial request, filed on Jan. 27, 2023, called for an annual overall revenue increase of approximately $11.4 million (7.5%).  Today’s action by the Commission approves a smaller annual overall revenue increase – of $8.5 million (5.6%) – which becomes effective Oct. 1, 2023.

Under the settlement, the total monthly bill for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWhs) per month will increase from $192.73 to approximately $204.76 (6.2%), compared to UGI Electric’s original proposal, which would have increased the total monthly bill for the same residential customer to $209.96 (8.9%).

Other highlights of the approved settlement include:

• UGI Electric will conduct an interim pilot to auto-enroll non-shopping customers participating in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) into the utility’s Customer Assistance Programs.

• UGI Electric’s installation of a 1.25 MWh battery storage project as a targeted means to enhance resiliency and improve reliability to customers served off the Ruckle Hill Road circuit.
  
  
• UGI Electric’s replacement of older non-standard wood poles and the installation of spacer-cable construction and associated conductor, which will increase pole and conductor resistance to tree contact and damage.

The settlement is supported by the active parties in this case, including:  UGI Electric, the Commission’s Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement, the Office of Consumer Advocate, the Office of Small Business Advocate, the Coalition for Affordable Utility Services and Energy Efficiency in Pennsylvania, and the Commission on Economic Opportunity.

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 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-2022-3037368

Contact:

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