Press Release

PUC to Investigate FirstEnergy’s $503 Million Rate Increase Requests for Electric Distribution Services

Published on 4/25/2024

Filed under: Electric

Investigation Will Examine Rate Increases Proposed for the Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn Power Rate Districts

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today voted to suspend and investigate proposed rate increases by FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FirstEnergy), for electric distribution services, seeking an annual increase in revenues of $503,848,000 (34%).

FirstEnergy provides services to customers in the Med-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn Power Rate Districts, which serve about 2.1 million customers in 56 counties across Pennsylvania.

The Commission voted 5-0 to investigate FirstEnergy’s rate increase requests, which were filed on April 2, 2024. 

Based on today’s action by the Commission, the rate increase requests are now suspended for up to seven months from the proposed effective date of June 1, 2024, and will be assigned to the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge for investigation and recommended decisions.  More information on the ratemaking process is available on the Commission’s website.

The rate increase proposal filed by FirstEnergy requests the following rate changes for their four rate districts:

• In the Met-Ed Rate District, a proposed revenue increase of $146,332,000 (31%) would increase the average monthly bill for a residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month from $187.70 to $205.00 (9.2 %).
  
  
• In the Penelec Rate District, a proposed revenue increase of $132,963,000 (28%) would increase the average monthly bill for a residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month from $200.96 to $220.75 (9.8 %).
  
  
• In the Penn Power Rate District, a proposed revenue increase of $54,764,000 (43%) would increase the average monthly bill for a residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month from $180.59 to $201.88 (11.8 %).
  
  
• In the West Penn Rate District, a proposed revenue increase of $169,789,000 (40%) would increase the average monthly bill for a residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month from $156.36 to $172.98 (10.6 %).

A final PUC decision on the FirstEnergy rate increase request is due by Jan. 1, 2025.

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 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-2024-3047068

Contact:

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