PUC set early June for public input hearings for gas rate increase

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced a pair of early June telephonic hearings to gather public input on the rate increase proposed by PECO Energy Company – Gas Division (PECO), which provides natural gas distribution service to approximately 543,000 customers in southeastern Pennsylvania (located outside the City of Philadelphia).

PUC Public Input Hearing

The public input hearings for the proposed PECO rate increase are scheduled for the following:

Wednesday, June 1, 2022 – Telephonic hearings will be held at 1 p.m. and at 6 p.m.

PUC Administrative Law Judge F. Joseph Brady will preside over the hearings.

Signing Up for the Public Input Hearing

If you wish to testify at the telephonic public input hearing, you must pre-register with the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) by 3 p.m. on Friday, May 27, 2022. If you do not pre-register and provide the information listed below, you will not be able to testify. Individuals will testify in the order in which they pre-register. If you do not wish to testify but want to listen to the public input hearing, you may also contact the OCA to obtain the call-in information.

To pre-register, contact the OCA by phone at 1-800-684-6560 or by email at consumer@paoca.org and provide:

Your first and last name;

The date and time (1 p.m. or 6 p.m.) of the public input hearing you would like to participate in;

The phone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing;

A phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing, if it is necessary to contact you;

Your email address, if you have one; and

If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.

If you require an interpreter, please pre-register as soon as possible to allow every reasonable effort to have an interpreter present.

If you have any hearing exhibits to which you will refer during the hearing, please email them to the OCA at consumer@paoca.org. The OCA will forward the exhibits to the Judge and all parties. Exhibits must be received by May 27, 2022.

If you have any questions, contact the OCA toll-free at 800-684-6560 or consumer@paoca.org.

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

The deadline for signing up for the public input hearings is 3 p.m. on Friday, May 27, 2022.

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.

PECO Rate Increase Request

The rate changes proposed by PECO would increase annual revenues by $82.1 million (9.1%).

Under the rate increase proposed by PECO, the total average monthly bill of a residential customer using 80 Ccf of natural gas per month would increase from $95.31 to $107.70 (13%).

More information on the ratemaking process is available on the PUC website. A final decision by the Commission on this rate increase request is due by Dec. 30, 2022.

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 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-2022-3031113