With rate hike, Centre County electricity could soon cost more. How to voice your opinion
Pennsylvanians might see some of their utility charges increase under a new proposal, but it’s not too late to voice your opinion on the potential changes.
FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company, which operates Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn Power, seeks to increase its revenues by more than $500 million (or about 34%) annually. The proposal would increase the average residential user’s electricity bill by between $16.62 and $21.30 per month.
The companies serve roughly 2.1 million customers across 56 Pennsylvania counties, and each of them will have a chance to share concerns and comments through public hearings in late June and July. Here’s what you need to know before it’s your county’s turn.
When is Centre County’s public hearing?
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will host a series of hearings this summer for several counties. Each will allow residents there to voice their opinions on the proposed utility changes and enter their comments into the record.
Centre County is one of seven counties to have in-person hearings scheduled. Those hearings — slated for 1 and 6 p.m. Thursday, June 27 — will occur in the Coaly Ballroom at the Graduate State College hotel in State College at 125 S. Atherton St.
Those who can’t make it to an in-person hearing can chime in through a series of telephonic public hearings scheduled for 1 and 6 p.m. July 16 and 17. If you want to testify through a telephonic hearing, you should register by email (legal assistant Mary Swarner at mswarner@pa.gov) or by phone (412-565-3550) by 4 p.m. July 12. In both cases, you should state your first and last name, the date and time of the hearing at which you want to testify, the phone number you will call with and your email address if you have one.
Send an email or call that number and provide your name and your desired hearing to receive contact information for the call. Doing so will help ensure adequate caller capacity to accommodate as many people as possible.
In a news release, the PUC offered some tips and reminders for those who plan to speak at these hearings:
- Prepare your thoughts beforehand. Consider writing out your statement and reading it into the record so you don’t forget anything important.
- Offering formal testimony during a hearing will add it to the record, which the PUC will use in the process of issuing its final decision on the rate proposal.
- Parties involved in the case may ask you questions to clarify your remarks.
- Arrive in person or connect to the call early to give yourself enough time to hear introductions and receive instructions.
- Stay to the point and avoid needless repetition. However, you may repeat the thoughts of others to emphasize an issue you and many other customers might face.
- Add your own perspective using unique, specific examples that support issues that are important to you.
Visit puc.pa.gov/about-the-puc/public-meetings-hearings to find live streams, videos and transcriptions from the PUC’s public meeting and hearings.
How will the proposed utility rate changes affect Centre County?
Most of Centre County receives its electricity from FirstEnergy-owned West Penn Power, which also serves areas near Pittsburgh and in northern and southern Pennsylvania. The rest of Centre County falls under Penelec’s jurisdiction, while Penn State’s University Park campus receives its own rates within the West Penn Power district.
Under FirstEnergy’s rate proposal, the average monthly bill for a residential customer in the West Penn Rate District (using a baseline of 1,000 kWh per month) would rise from roughly $156.36 to $172.98, marking a 10.6% increase. Those paying for electricity in the Penelec Rate District would see their average monthly bills rise from $180.59 to $201.88 (up 9.8%). Penn State’s monthly bills would rise about 2.6%, according to the plans.
Elsewhere across Pennsylvania, the Met-Ed Rate District and the Penn Power Rate District would see the average residential customer’s bills rise by 9.2% and 11.8%, respectively. The plan would provide revenue increases of at least $54.8 million for each of the four districts, with West Penn Power benefiting the most through a $169.8 million bump.
Commercial and industrial customers would see increases in their bills under FirstEnergy’s proposal, too. The average commercial and industrial customers within the West Penn Rate District would receive increases of 4.6% and 0.3% each month, respectively.
Why is FirstEnergy proposing utility rate hikes?
Scotty Wyman, president of FirstEnergy’s operations in Pennsylvania, said the proposed utility rate increases would help the company invest in its energy grid while continuing to provide dependable electricity across the commonwealth.
“The work we are doing makes a positive difference — installation of new equipment coupled with proactive tree trimming has helped reduce the frequency of electric service interruptions experienced by our Pennsylvania customers by 14% since 2019,” Wyman said in a statement. “This rate proposal balances the need to invest in the system while helping keep electric bills comparable to other utilities in the state.”
The new proposal would reportedly assist FirstEnergy in completing several tasks and goals, including:
- Modernizing the grid with new technology that can prevent or reduce the scope and duration of power outages
- Converting roughly 85,000 company-owned streetlights to energy-efficient LED lights that save electricity and money
- Removing more than 2.4 million trees and overhanging limbs that could damage poles and wires along roughly 14,000 miles of line
- Eliminating service fees for customers paying electric bills by credit card
- Creating an electric vehicle pilot program to encourage customers to buy electric vehicles and provide rebates for home chargers, among other incentives
FirstEnergy last filed a Pennsylvania rate review in 2016, which produced new rates that took effect in January 2017.
According to a company statement released April 2, FirstEnergy hoped to implement new rates starting June 1. However, the PUC’s hearings are expected to delay that potential start date.
A final decision from the PUC regarding the FirstEnergy proposal is due by Jan. 1, 2025. Regulating electric utilities across most of Pennsylvania is one of the commission’s key responsibilities.
FirstEnergy customers in Pennsylvania can call 1-800-545-7741 to learn more about the proposed rate plan.
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