Press Release

PUC Schedules Public Input Hearings on Proposed Rate Increase for UGI Utilities, Inc. – Electric Division

Published on 3/20/2023

Filed under: Electric

Telephonic Hearings Scheduled on April 11, 2023, to Gather Public Input from UGI Electric Customers and Other Concerned Parties

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has scheduled a pair of telephonic hearings on April 11, 2023, to gather public input on a proposed rate increase by UGI Utilities, Inc – Electric Division (UGI Electric).

UGI Electric provides electric service to approximately 63,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in portions of Luzerne and Wyoming counties. 

PUC Public Input Hearings

The PUC telephonic hearings to gather public input on UGI Electric’s proposed rate increase are scheduled for the following:

• Tuesday, April 11, 2023 – Telephonic hearings will begin at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

PUC Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge Christopher P. Pell and Administrative Law Judge Charece Z. Collins will preside over the hearings.

Signing Up for the Public Input Hearings

To testify at a telephonic public input hearing, you must pre-register with the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) by 12 p.m. on Monday, April 10, 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) the time (1 p.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.

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 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 time(s) you want to listen to the public input hearing(s).  Again, the deadline for signing up for the public input hearings is Monday, April 10, 2023, at 12 p.m. 

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, you please email your proposed exhibit(s) to the OCA at consumer@paoca.org.  The OCA will forward the exhibits to the judges and all parties.  Exhibits must be received by April 10, 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.

UGI Electric’s Rate Increase Request

On March 2, 2023, the Commission voted 5-0 to investigate a rate increase request filed by UGI Electric on Jan, 27, 2023.  The changes proposed by UGI Electric would produce an annual overall revenue increase of approximately $11.4 million (7.5%). 

UGI Electric’s proposals would result in the total monthly bill for a residential customer, using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month, increasing from $192.73 to $209.96 (about 8.9%). 

A final decision by the Commission on this rate increase request is due by Oct. 28, 2023.

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-2022-3037368

Contact:

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