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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Rick Mirabito
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PUC to investigate PPL distribution rate hike request
Mirabito: 'Local PPL customers spoke and the PUC listened.'
WILLIAMSPORT, May 21 – State Rep. Rick Mirabito, D-Lycoming, announced today that the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will investigate PPL Electric Utilities Inc.'s request to increase its electric distribution rates by about $114 million.
"In March I asked my constituents to contact the PUC requesting an investigation. Local PPL customers spoke and the PUC listened," Mirabito said.
In addition, Mirabito joined members of the Northeast Democratic Delegation of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives last month to send a letter to PPL asking the utility to reconsider its rate increase request, and a letter to the PUC asking the agency to deny it.
"This decision by the PUC is great news for our residents whose budgets are already being strained because of lay-offs, salary freezes and our weak economy. While the decision to investigate does not mean the request will be denied, it will give the PUC time to carefully balance the needs of the utility with the financial constraints of Pennsylvania families," Mirabito said.
If PPL's rate increase is granted in full, the average residential customer would see their monthly bill increase from $137.34 to $144.75 per month, or 5.4 percent. Commercial customers would see a 3.5 percent decrease in their monthly charges; industrial customers' bills would go down by 0.5 percent according to PPL.
Mirabito said he encourages residents who object to the rate increase to file a formal complaint with the PUC either through the agency's website at www.puc.state.pa.us, or by sending a letter to: Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, P.O. Box 3265, Harrisburg, PA 17105-3265.
The request is suspended for up to seven months and will be assigned to the Office of Administrative Law Judge for public hearings and a recommended decision or settlement. A final decision must be made by Dec. 31.