Press Release

PUC Approves Rate Case Settlements with Wellsboro Electric, Valley Energy and Citizens’ Electric Company of Lewisburg

Published on 1/15/2026

Filed under: Electric Gas

Settlements include smaller-than-requested rate changes for electric and natural gas distribution rates for the three affiliated companies

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved rate case settlements with three affiliated utilities serving customers in north-central Pennsylvania – Wellsboro Electric Company (Wellsboro Electric), Valley Energy Inc. (Valley Energy), and Citizens’ Electric Company of Lewisburg (Citizens’ Electric).

Collectively, these utilities serve several thousand electric and natural gas customers in parts of Bradford, Northumberland, Tioga, and Union counties.

Wellsboro Electric Proposed Rate Changes

The Commission voted 5-0 to approve a Joint Petition for Approval of Settlement enabling Wellsboro Electric to adjust its annual electric distribution operating revenues by approximately $2.5 million – less than the $2.9 million increase originally requested by the company. Wellsboro Electric will implement the annual operating revenue adjustment in two phases: 

• Phase I – an increase of $1,800,172, effective January 29, 2026; and
• Phase II – an additional increase of $699,928, effective January 29, 2027.

After implementation of Phase II, the total bill for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWhs) per month will increase 18.1%.  Pursuant to the company’s original filing, the total bill for the same residential customer would have increased 21.2% and became effective entirely in 2026.  Additionally, the Settlement enables Wellsboro Electric to adjust its fixed customer charge from $12 to $15 per month, as opposed to an adjustment from $12 to $16.50 per month, as requested in the company’s original filing. 

Wellsboro Electric serves approximately 6,500 electric customers in the Borough of Wellsboro and in the townships of Charleston, Delmar and Middlebury in Tioga County.  The company last filed for an increase in electric distribution base rates in 2019.

Valley Energy Proposed Rate Changes

The Commission voted 4-1 to approve a Joint Petition for Approval of Settlement permitting Valley Energy to increase its annual natural gas operating revenues by approximately $1.1 million (or by 12% over operating revenues at present rates).  Valley Energy had proposed an increase in annual operating revenues of $1.6 million (19%).  The Settlement reduces the company’s requested overall increase by approximately one third – with an average residential bill including current supply charges for a customer using 76 hundred cubic feet (Ccf) per month increasing 12.2% instead of by 18% as proposed by the company.

The Settlement also allows the company to adjust its residential customer charge to $13.80 per month – an increase from the current customer charge of $12.35.  Valley Energy had proposed to adjust its monthly residential customer charge to $14.

Valley Energy serves more than 7,400 natural gas customers in Bradford County, including in the boroughs of Athens, Monroe, Sayre, South Waverly and Towanda as well as the townships of Asylum, Athens, Monroe, North Towanda, Towanda, Ulster and Wysox.

Citizens’ Electric Proposed Rate Changes

The Commission voted 4-1 to approve a Joint Petition for Approval of the Non-Unanimous Settlement providing for an approximate $1.39 million increase in annual electric distribution operating revenues for Citizens’ Electric, instead of an annual increase of approximately $1.79 million, as originally requested by the company. 

The Settlement reduces increases on customer bills – with the total monthly bill for a residential customer using 1,250 kWh per month increasing 6.8% instead of by 11% as proposed by the company.  The settlement also allows the company to adjust its residential customer charge from $13.10 to $15 per month, as opposed to an adjustment from $13.10 to $16.50 per month, as requested in the company’s original filing.

Citizens’ Electric serves nearly 7,200 electric customers in the Borough of Lewisburg and surrounding communities in Union and Northumberland counties.

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, 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 Nos.:

R-2025-3054392 – Wellsboro Electric
R-2025-3054393 – Valley Energy
R-2025-3054394 – Citizens’ Electric

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov
• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov