Pennsylvania
Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania proposed rate increase under investigation by Public Utility Commission
The year-long course of takes place anytime a utility firm requests a fee change.
YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Utility costs are on the rise.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Fee is now investigating a month-to-month fee improve proposed by Columbia Fuel of Pennsylvania, which companies greater than 400,000 residential and business prospects all through western and south central Pennsylvania.
“The work for the PUC at this level is to not take sides essentially however to launch an investigation and provides everybody a possibility to have a voice within the course of,” mentioned Nils Hagen-Frederiksen, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Fee.
This year-long course of takes place any time a utility firm requests a fee change.
Columbia Fuel says the proposed improve gives a possibility to proceed investing within the security of its pure gasoline distribution system by changing getting older underground pipe.
“It’s Columbia Fuel’s accountability to display their request is important and affordable and within the public curiosity,” mentioned Hagen-Frederiksen. “That’s actually the check the PUC places to any request to vary charges.”
If the rise is authorized by the PUC, residential, business and industrial prospects would see distribution prices on their month-to-month invoice rise by as a lot as ten p.c.
In a press release to FOX43, Columbia Fuel says:
“Below our submitting, the brand new Columbia Fuel distribution charges decided by the PUC wouldn’t change into efficient till mid-to-late December 2022. If the request is authorized as filed, the overall common residential buyer invoice in 2022 would nonetheless be 10 p.c decrease than it was 20 years in the past when adjusted for inflation.”
As a part of the investigation course of, the PUC will maintain 4 public enter hearings by way of phone on Could thirty first and June 1st.
“It’s actually an ideal alternative for particular person shoppers to have their voices heard and speak in regards to the potential impression of any fee change on them,” mentioned Hagen-Frederiksen
In case you want to testify at a listening to, you should pre-register by means of the Workplace of Client Advocate by this Thursday, Could 26.
Yow will discover out easy methods to pre-register right here.
Obtain the FOX43 app right here.