Press Release

PUC Reminds Consumers of Upcoming Public Input Hearings on Proposed Rate Increase for Philadelphia Gas Works

Published on 5/19/2023

Filed under: Consumer Education Gas

In-Person Hearings on May 23 Followed by Telephonic Hearings on May 24; Individuals Must Pre-Register by May 23 to Testify During a Telephonic Hearing

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today reminded consumers and other concerned parties about the in-person and telephonic public input hearings scheduled for Tuesday, May 23, 2023, and Wednesday, May 24, 2023, regarding a proposed rate increase by Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW).

Additionally, the PUC reminded consumers that the Wednesday public input hearings will be telephonic hearings only and pre-registration is required by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, for individuals and interested parties wishing to testify during either telephonic hearing scheduled for that day. 

Note:  Pre-registration is not necessary for individuals wishing to attend or testify at Tuesday’s in-person public input hearings.

PUC Public Input Hearings

A total of four public input hearings have been scheduled:  two in-person hearings on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, followed by two telephonic hearings on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. 

The full two-day schedule is as follows: 

• Tuesday, May 23, 2023 – In-person hearings will be held at the following times and locations:

        10 a.m. – Betsy Ross Conference Center (enter on 8^th Street)
                        6^th Floor Betsy Ross Conference Center
                        801 Market Street
                        Philadelphia, PA 19107

         6 p.m. –  George Washington High School
                        High School Auditorium
                        10175 Bustleton Avenue
                        Philadelphia, PA 19116

• Wednesday, May 24, 2023 – Telephonic hearings will begin at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

PUC Administrative Law Judges Eranda Vero and Arlene D. Ashton will preside over the hearings.

Signing Up for the Telephonic Public Input Hearings

To testify at a telephonic public input hearing, you must pre-register with the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) no later than 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.  Interested persons can pre-register by email at consumer@paoca.org or by phone at 1-800-684-6560 and provide:

          (1) your first and last name;

          (2) date (May 24, 2023) & time (10 a.m. or 6 p.m.) of the hearing at which you wish to testify;

          (3) the phone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing;

          (4) a phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing if we need to contact you;

          (5) your email address if you have one; and

          (6) if you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.

To participate in the public input hearings, you may use the following call-in information:

          Toll-free Bridge Number:  1-866-560-8322 
          PIN Number:  36676820
          (NOTE: Please speak your name when prompted)

If you do not pre-register and provide the information listed above, you may not be able to testify.  Individuals will testify in the order in which they pre-register.   

NOTE:  If you do not wish to testify but want to listen to the telephonic public input hearing(s), please contact the OCA to obtain the call-in information (same contact information as listed above) and provide your name and the time(s) of the public input hearing(s) of which you want to listen.  Again, the deadline for signing up for the telephonic public input hearings is 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

Interpreters and Assistance Registering

If you require an interpreter, please pre-register as soon as possible.  If you register too close to the hearing date, we may not have enough time to arrange for an interpreter.  If you request an interpreter, we will make every reasonable effort to have one present. 

If you need assistance pre-registering to testify, you may have someone register for you, but they will need to provide all the information listed above.  Additionally, if more than one person in your household would like to testify, one person may pre-register for other individuals in the same household, but all the information listed above is needed for each individual testifying. 

Relay service number for persons who are deaf or hearing-impaired is 800-654-5988.

Exhibits

If you intend to offer exhibits at the public input hearing, please email your proposed exhibit(s) to the OCA at consumer@paoca.org.  The OCA will forward the exhibits to Administrative Law Judges and all parties.  Exhibits must be received by May 22, 2023.

NOTE:  Individuals representing themselves are not required to be represented by an attorney.  All others, including corporations, partnerships, associations, trusts, governmental agencies or subdivision, must be represented by an attorney.  An attorney representing you should file a Notice of Appearance before the scheduled hearing date.

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.

PUC Investigation of PGW’s Proposed Rate Increase

On April 20, 2023, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) voted 5-0 to investigate a rate increase request filed by PGW on February 27, 2023.

PGW’s request proposes changes which would produce an annual overall revenue increase of approximately $85.8 million (10.3%).  PGW’s proposal would result in the total monthly bill for a residential customer using 71 Mcf per year increasing from $125.38 to $137.73 (about 9.9%).  In its filing, PGW also proposes increasing its monthly residential customer charge from $14.90 to $19.50.

PGW provides natural gas distribution services to approximately 516,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the City of Philadelphia. 

About the PUC

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-2023-3037933

Contact:

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