PENNSYLVANIA, USA — The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has voted to suspend and investigate FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company's proposed rate increases for electric distribution services. FirstEnergy seeks an annual revenue increase of $503.8 million (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.
The rate increase requests are now suspended for up to seven months from the proposed effective date of June 1, 2024.
The PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge will investigate and recommend decisions.
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 31) would increase the average monthly bill for a residential customer from $187.70 to $205.00 (9.2 %).
- In the Penelec Rate District, a proposed revenue increase of 28% would increase the average monthly bill for a residential customer from $200.96 to $220.75 (9.8 %).
- In the Penn Power Rate District, a proposed revenue increase of 43% would increase the average monthly bill for a residential customer from $180.59 to $201.88 (11.8 %).
- In the West Penn Rate District, a proposed revenue increase of 40% would increase the average monthly bill for a residential customer from $156.36 to $172.98 (10.6 %).
A final PUC decision on the FirstEnergy rate increase request is due by Jan. 1, 2025.