PUC to Investigate Rate Increase Request by Butler County Natural Gas Company

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today voted to investigate a proposed rate increase by Herman Riemer Gas Co. Inc., according to a statement released by PUC.

Herman Riemer Gas Co. provides natural gas service to approximately 590 residential customers in Butler County.

The Commission voted 5-0 to investigate the request to increase revenues by $405,202 (77.5 percent). Under the company’s proposal, the monthly bill for the average residential customer using 6.25 Mcf per month would increase $46.38 (75.86 percent) from $61.14 to $107.52.

The request is suspended for up to seven months and will be assigned to the Office of Administrative Law Judge for a recommended decision or settlement. More information on the ratemaking process is available on the Commission’s website.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.